Scott Morrison tells US congress to strengthen alliances against China’s economic pressure
US alliances and partnerships must be strengthened to push back against Chinese economic coercion, former Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has told a US congressional panel.
“This is as true in the economic sphere as it is in the security sphere,” Mr Morrison said in a rare appearance by a country’s former leader before Congress.
He shared with the House Select Committee on China his experience of coping with the country’s trade punishments - including restrictions on imports of Australian wine, barley and more - when his government called for an independent inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Morrison, who was prime minister from 2018 to 2022, said US allies and partners can be tapped to build an alternative supply chain of rare earths, used in technology such as smartphones.
For such alliances and partnerships to work, “there has to be a strong core, and that requires a strong America,” he said.
