Tony Abbott takes swipe at China in Japan speech, says communist nation does not share Australia's 'values'

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-26/tony-abbott-lashes-china-for-not-sharing-a...

Former prime minister Tony Abbott is set to take a swipe at China, saying the communist nation does not share the same "values" as Australia.

Key points:

Tony Abbott to give speech in Tokyo, contrasting Australia's relationships with Japan and China
Mr Abbott says Japan and Australia share values, while China does not
Mr Abbott to argue for further freedom of navigation operations in South China Sea
A draft copy of a speech Mr Abbott is giving in Tokyo tonight says Japan and Australia have a "special relationship because it's not based simply on shared interests, but also on shared values".

In contrast, Mr Abbott's speech says while Australia's "economy is more closely tied to China's than to any other, it's still an 'interests' partnership rather than a 'values' one".

"The challenge for all of us is to work to ensure that China better appreciates the rules based international order that's created the stability that's made China's new prosperity possible," the speech says.

Mr Abbott will also outline his support for further freedom of navigation and military operations in the contested South China Sea.

"Over the past 18 months, Australia has quietly increased our own air and naval patrols in the South China Sea," the speech reads.

"We should be prepared to exercise our rights to freedom of navigation wherever international law permits because this is not something that the United States should have to police on its own."

It is a view shared by Australia's most recent ambassador to Washington, Kim Beazley, who spoke to the ABC's 7:30 program.

Asked whether Australia had conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea recently, Mr Beazley said: "Not to my knowledge and I shouldn't have answered the question in that way."

"I should have said 'Go and talk to the Foreign Minister'."

Mr Beazley also said maritime operations should be carried out routinely in the South China Sea.

"The Chinese react worse when their noses are being rubbed in it, when things are routine, they tend to live with it," he said.

It was at Abbott's behest that the new massive spending on defence hardware was initiated - and apparently Turnbull is in total agreement with him for not making any reductions in the spending or equipment being bought.

All of this sudden urgency is due entirely to China's recent military expansion into the China Sea.

Turnbull agrees with Abbott's speech, and so does Shorten.

lee wrote on Feb 26^th, 2016 at 8:09pm:



China putting stability at risk: Abbott

http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/china-putting-stability-at-risk-ab...

China is putting the stability and security of the South China Sea at risk and should face consequences for breaking the rules, former prime minister Tony Abbott says.

The rising Asian superpower also has an "interests partnership" with Australia, rather than one based on values, Mr Abbott told the Japan Institute of National Affairs in Tokyo.

etc etc


is that a better spoon feeding?

____ wrote on Feb 26^th, 2016 at 8:13pm:


I agree.

Saying we have shared values with Japan is simply stupid in the extreme. Nothing showcases this better than the slaughter of whales and dolphins, and many other cruel practices of the Japanese oriental mind.

They have a minimal immigration program and no multiculturalism. No mosques in every second suburb - (for which I congratulate them for their foresight).

Perhaps Tony has been having too much sake over there.

____ wrote on Feb 26^th, 2016 at 8:25pm:


That surprises me too, but then again, no one did this more than Turnbull when he was PM-in-Waiting. A bit of pay-back maybe.

Election year and the coalition is a war zone, split down the middle.
As Howard said ~ Division is Death.

The more undermining, the better.


So wonder what's the current odds are for Shorten being PM by the end of the year?

____ wrote on Feb 26^th, 2016 at 8:37pm:



You are seriously deluded. Where are these hard right hawks?

____ wrote on Feb 26^th, 2016 at 8:45pm:



Not a single mention of China.