Cabinet papers 2001: John Howard regrets China’s aggressive change
A Chinese leader with a love of Western films once paid tribute to the US – a far cry from the ‘belligerent’ China that John Howard sees today.
Australia needs to “play the long game” in its deteriorating relationship with China as former prime minister John Howard expresses regret at the “aggressive and belligerent” turn the superpower has taken.
In October 2001 there was a historic APEC meeting held in Shanghai in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, which Mr Howard and US President George W Bush both attended.
Mr Howard said there was true camaraderie between China and the US, with the Chinese President Jiang Zemin delivering an address in English in a “singular tribute to his American guests”.
“The mood of solidarity by the Chinese towards the Americans was something I remembered,” Mr Howard said at the release of the 2001 cabinet papers by the National Archives of Australia.
“I recall observing the deserted streets of Shanghai with then American President George Bush. We of course, reminded ourselves that we were still living in an authoritarian country.
“He said, ‘John, you wouldn’t get away with deserted streets in New York’. And I replied, ‘Nor Sydney’.
“The reality, of course, was that despite the hospitality in the friendship, it was still a dictatorial and totalitarian country.”
Mr Howard praised President Jiang, describing him as “the most surprising international leader I met” with a love of Western films of a certain point in time.
“There’s a world of difference between (current President) Xi Jinping and Jiang Zemin,” he said.
“Personalities matter at the head of government in any country, but they particularly matter when the person at the head of government has all the power.
“What has changed is that the attitude of the current Chinese leadership is more aggressive and belligerent. I regret that. I think we have to play a long game with China.”
Mr Jiang served as China’s President for a decade and oversaw economic growth and reforms, including increased foreign investment.
The former Australian prime minister also defended the Coalition’s approach in handling the relationship, particularly when it came to a key point of contention that was Australia calling for an investigation into the origin of Covid-19.
“I thought it was expressed in moderate terms, it wasn’t followed up by any chest beating and bellicose language,” Mr Howard said.
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