The post-War order is meant to provide a check on the untrammelled power of the powerful, whether through military invasions or more subtle ways of bending the will of other countries—methods such as interference, coercion and malicious cyber intrusions.
Yet when asked recently how Australia would address China’s influence in the Pacific, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said, ‘China’s doing what great powers do, and great powers try to lift their influence and expand their influence in the region that they wish.’
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The type of influence China exercises is not something we can accept as simply ‘what great powers do’. It launched a cyber attack on the Pacific Islands Forum, spreads online disinformation in the Pacific to undermine democracies and weaken Pacific partnerships, sought security agreements that lack public transparency, and undertaken various other malicious activities—such as hybrid and grey zone operations.
And that’s just in the Pacific—China is carrying out this malicious activity globally, not to mention being the main supporter enabling Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Of course, other significant powers seek influence, but responsible nations don’t behave like this.
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Actions of a few individuals do not define a nation. Are all Australians the romper stomper Asian haters of the 1990’s? No we are not. Or the people that hoarded toilet paper for their own gains, again no we are not. I was in China in December 2019 and there was an effort by many people to inform that there was a virus going around and that I should be extra careful. They did not do that for their benefit and many risked the embarassment of attempting to speak English to a foreigner. Then there were people trying to sell me a mask for 100 times inflated price for their own gain. People are people and some will take an opportunity even if it negatively affects others. Doesn’t mean everyone there is a cunt.