https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2B40AW
Marise Payne, Australia’s foreign minister, condemned recent legislation restructuring Hong Kong’s electoral system. The new regulations would make it harder for citizens to be accurately represented in the Hong Kong government and also allow for harsher vetting of officials’ political beliefs on Beijing. Australia is known to have ties to Hong Kong with a previous Hong Kong pro-democracy politician fleeing to Australia and 100,000 Australians living in the district. Other countries, such as the United States, have also been outspoken against Chinese lawmakers suppressing the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Democratic states speaking out against authoritarian regimes have occurred for centuries, yet China’s amount of power has only deterred states from involving themselves in a conflict. China’s global influence has skyrocketed due to their pivotal role in the global economy. All states are somewhat dependent on China’s exports, which makes it harder for states to hold China accountable. Therefore, states, such as Australia and the United States, can not invade them and change their regime like they have in least developed countries. This leaves China as almost untouchable knowing that states can only do so much before they create more problems for themselves, not China.
While the statement reflected previous sentiments towards China, there is no action behind the words because of the state of the world today. Due to there being no such thing as a “correct strategy” towards the geopolitical conflicts, the least states can do is address the issues. The Fifth Stage of Geopolitics explains that relations with China are difficult to navigate while trying to establish their dominance at the same time. Rather than competing, states are taking the economic approach through sanctions that allows them to have some say in their actions. While sanctions are not the most efficient way to be heard, it is almost the only way states can control China.