Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was invited to testify before a U.S. Congressional hearing, where he delivered a speech warning that Western nations should not be deceived by China’s recent “charm offensive” in diplomacy. He pointed out that while China appears cooperative on the surface, its strategic intentions remain unchanged.
Morrison described the Chinese Communist Party’s diplomacy as “full of flattery and temptation,” asserting that its real goal is to divide the Western alliance and weaken the resolve of democratic nations. He emphasized that China’s economic coercion against Australia was not an isolated incident, and that other democracies could also become targets.
Reflecting on his own experience dealing with Chinese trade retaliation during his tenure, Morrison said it was clear that China’s strategy aimed to “turn Australia into the United States’ most dependent ally in the region,” thereby indirectly pressuring the U.S. He urged Washington to continue strengthening economic and security partnerships with like-minded allies to ensure strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific.
While he did not comment in detail on the Trump administration’s tariff policies or the ongoing AUKUS review, he reminded the U.S. not to overlook the importance of collaboration with its allies.