“With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible.”
— Tony Abbott
Australian special envoy and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, visiting New Delhi last week as Australia’s special trade envoy for India as the Australian government gives priority to sealing a bilateral trade deal.
He said, “A free trade agreement between his nation and India would signal the ‘democratic world’s tilt away from China.’ M. Abbott is known to have said in a statement that angered Beijing, that the “answer to almost every question about China is India.”
Relations between Australia and China have turned soured over issues, including Australia banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei from major communications infrastructure projects.
“With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible,” Mr. Abbott wrote.
“Because trade deals are about politics as much as economics, a swift deal between India and Australia would be an important sign of the democratic world’s tilt away from China, as well as boosting the long-term prosperity of both our countries,” Mr. Abbott added.
Relations between Australia and China have turned soured over issues, including Australia banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei from major communications infrastructure projects. It also outlawed covert foreign interference in Australian politics. Calling for an independent investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic further worsened the situation.