Tony Abbott claims 'hard to know' where Albanese government stands in ‘dictatorship and democracy' choice between China, US
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been rebuked in recent days for pushing away the US while cozying up to China, with his latest speech at the John Curtin Research Centre over the weekend drawing ire from politicians and pundits alike.
In his weekend address, on the 80th anniversary of former prime minister John Curtin's death, Mr Albanese distanced Australia from its history as a close ally of the US and said the country would pursue its interests as a 'sovereign nation' and not be 'shackled to the past'.
Speaking to Sky News host Peta Credlin, Mr Abbott said the 'bedrock' alliance with the US was 'potentially at risk' due to the Labor government's seemingly lopsided diplomacy.
'Is the Albanese government more on the side of communist China? Or is it more on the side of the country that's been the leader of the free world all these decades?' he said.
Later this month, Mr Albanese will meet with China's President Xi Jinping for the fourth time, while he is still yet to meet US President Donald Trump.
Mr Abbott said if he was back in charge, there were two things he would do to turn the tide of Australia's dwindling friendship with America.
'First of all, you've got to swiftly lift our defence spending, our military spending, to the three per cent of GDP that people like Kim Beasley and the authors of the government's own defence review have said is essential,' he said.
The Albanese government has previously resisted calls from the United States to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent.
Mr Albanese has insisted any defence spend decision will be based on national interest, not external pressure, amid demands from US President Donald Trump and the Coalition.
Mr Abbott's second point was to make it 'crystal clear' Australia was behind the US.
'You've got to make it crystal clear that in any conflict between communist China and the leader of the free world, we'll be on America's side,' he said.
'Now, we hope that there will never be any conflict, because it would be diabolical, but the best way to avoid conflict is deterrence through strength, peace through strength.'
'In any choice between dictatorship and democracy, we know where we stand.'
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