Australian Leaders Keep Unspoken Vow of Silence on China’s Human Rights Record · Global Voices
Fiona So

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April. Photo: Malcolm Turnbull, public Facebook page.
Following Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's whirlwind visit to China from 14 to 15 April, some are questioning his decision to remain tight-lipped on the country's human rights record.
With a 1,000-strong entourage of business leaders in tow, the 36-hour trip saw Turnbull reach an agreement to expand Australian and Chinese tourism, announce a $100 million joint research and science program, and sign a deal aimed at raising the profile of Australian football. While the prime minister assured reporters that human rights issues had also been raised, he made clear such discussions would be kept strictly behind closed doors.
Aus PM Turnbull raised human rights w/ Premier Li, says “these issues are always discussed”, didn't give details of specific issues #China
— Bill Birtles (@billbirtles) April 15, 2016
Twitter user Bernie Zarsoff noted the marked difference in tone compared to when Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif visited Australia in March:
@MGliksmanMDPhD @HuffPostAU Leaders don't seem to have an issue with criticising countries like Iran, so why dance around China ????
— Bernie Zarsoff (@BernieZarsoff1) April 15, 2016
Turnbull's reluctance to disclose specifics is consistent with the tendency for senior Australian officials to avoid publicly confronting China over human rights issues. Earlier this February, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was similarly unwilling to dish on whether she had expressed concern to her Chinese counterparts about China's intimidation and detention of at least 170 lawyers:
I have raised these issues in the appropriate place which was in the ministerial and other meetings that I’ve held today. And I won’t go into the details, I don’t think that would be useful.
It seems even a social media ‘like’ violates this self-imposed, unspoken vow of silence.
Days before Turnbull's trip, Australia's Treasurer Scott Morrison claimed his account was hacked after appearing to ‘like’ an op-ed — written by Australia Director at Human Rights Watch Elaine Pearson — urging the prime minister to include human rights on the China agenda:
Malcolm Turnbull is to make his inaugural visit to China as Australia’s prime minister against the backdrop of a new bilateral free-trade agreement and growing unease over tensions in the South China Sea. It would be a mistake, however, if Turnbull’s talks in Beijing focus only on trade and security.
The Chinese government is imposing the most intense crackdown on civil society in at least two decades. Turnbull should not ignore the backdrop of repression that has intensified under the three years of President Xi Jinping’s rule.
BuzzFeed Australia's Political Editor Mark Di Stefano was among the first to pick up on Morrison's unusual Twitter move.
Well then. The Treasurer's most recent Twitter like is pretty interesting with the PM visiting China. pic.twitter.com/nXb9xVZd1j
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) April 13, 2016
Within an hour, the post was no longer tagged as ‘liked’. A subsequent tweet from Morrison appeared to blame the slip-up on unauthorized activity.
It appears my twitter account may have been accessed by someone unauthorised to do so. This has been rectified.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) April 13, 2016
Australians were quick to jump on the treasurer's reaction:
Just epic. @ScottMorrisonMP try & reserve ‘hacking’ excuse 4 things more embarrassing than ‘liking’ human rights. https://t.co/tahaeqoP0Z
— Peter Bouckaert (@bouckap) April 13, 2016
Don't worry @ScottMorrisonMP we know it didn't come from you as you don't believe in human rights in Australia, let alone China #auspol
— Brian Anthony (@killmebilly) April 13, 2016
@ScottMorrisonMP Did you accidentally tweet something compassionate, honest or with integrity for your position in government?
— Bort Flancrest (@bortflancrest) April 13, 2016
So I guess the Treasurer didn't really like my article on China after all? Still I hope he reads it https://t.co/5HvyQ0nsPO
— Elaine Pearson (@PearsonElaine) April 13, 2016
When human rights concerns in China are raised publicly, it is usually done on a less personal, more institutional basis. For instance, Australia was one of 12 countries who signed a joint statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council condemning China's intensified crackdown on human rights activists. A “frank and constructive exchange of views” also takes place at the infrequent Australia-China Human Rights Dialogue, the last of which was held in February 2014. It was not attended by the prime minister or any senior cabinet minister.
Several theories have been put forward to explain the conspicuous silence of senior Australian political figures on human rights in China — incidentally, Australia's largest trade partner.
Perhaps the most obvious is the government's need to ensure sensitivities over human rights do not derail the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), which recently came into force last December. The deal, which includes across-the-board tariff reductions for a range of Australian exports, is being enthusiastically spruiked by officials as “[supporting] future economic growth, job creation and higher living standards through increased goods and services trade, and investment.”
Others suggest the government is shying away from imminent charges of hypocrisy, in light of Australia's much lambasted treatment of asylum seekers and its indigenous population.
@MGliksmanMDPhD @ralphd2 Or doesn't want to be called out by China for hyprocrisy over treatment of Aboriginals & Refugees?
— Adora Krem (@Adorakrem) April 15, 2016
There is another possible explanation: Australia's leaders are simply too well-mannered to call China out.
@HuffPostAU
Malcolm Turnbull is a polite man & will not be lecturing a host country about human rights real or imaginary #auspol #Turnbull
— peterr (@shockresistant2) April 15, 2016