Overview

• Morrison recounted that Beijing imposed about A$20 billion in unofficial trade bans to punish Australia and signal its coercive power to other US allies.
• He highlighted a shift in China’s tactics away from overt economic bullying toward “inductive engagement laced with charm and flattery” while pursuing the same strategic objectives.
• Citing a Lowy Institute poll, he warned that 50 percent of Australians now view China more as an economic partner than a security threat, risking Western democracies “going to sleep” on the menace.
• Speaking to the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, he urged Washington and its partners to deepen collaboration on critical-minerals supply chains alongside initiatives like AUKUS and the Quad.
• He called for increased defence budgets among US allies to bolster collective resilience and warned that unity in the face of potential economic pressure is essential.