By Sam Clench
Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has come under fire from China over her remarks.
CHINA has lost its temper with an Australian senator, accusing her of attacking it with “unwarranted invective” and “blatant slander”.
On Friday, Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells issued a grim warning in The Australian newspaper, saying China was using “debt-trap diplomacy” to build its influence among the Pacific Island nations neighbouring Australia.
She claimed China was tempting poor countries with loans they couldn’t afford to repay — a strategy far less sinister than military expansion, but no less effective.
“Today, the sovereign threat is less confrontational but the debt-trap diplomacy just as insidious,” Ms Fierravanti-Wells wrote.
“Pacific countries need to use limited government reserves to meet their loan commitments to avoid defaulting.
On Friday, Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells issued a grim warning in The Australian newspaper, saying China was using “debt-trap diplomacy” to build its influence among the Pacific Island nations neighbouring Australia.
She claimed China was tempting poor countries with loans they couldn’t afford to repay — a strategy far less sinister than military expansion, but no less effective.
“Today, the sovereign threat is less confrontational but the debt-trap diplomacy just as insidious,” Ms Fierravanti-Wells wrote.
“Pacific countries need to use limited government reserves to meet their loan commitments to avoid defaulting.
“Domestic spending and important social programs are jeopardised.
“Consequently, the internal stability of these countries may be affected and greater demand is placed on overseas development assistance from countries such as Australia.
“Consequently, the internal stability of these countries may be affected and greater demand is placed on overseas development assistance from countries such as Australia.
“In short, Australian taxpayers effectively will be subsidising repayment of loans to China.”
Ms Fierravanti-Wells has previously accused China of funding “useless buildings” and “roads to nowhere” in the island nations.
China has indeed showered countries such as Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands with loans in recent years.
Ms Fierravanti-Wells has previously accused China of funding “useless buildings” and “roads to nowhere” in the island nations.
China has indeed showered countries such as Vanuatu, Tonga and the Solomon Islands with loans in recent years.
Between 2006 and 2016, it invested $2.3 billion in the region, according to analysis from The Lowy Institute.
But in a scathing response to Ms Fierravanti-Wells, China rejected any implication that its motives were not pure.
But in a scathing response to Ms Fierravanti-Wells, China rejected any implication that its motives were not pure.
This isn’t the first time China and Australia have sparred over the Pacific Islands issue.
Earlier this year, Beijing’s state-run media went so far as to label Australia an “arrogant overlord”.
The biggest fear among China’s Australian critics is that it will use its financial leverage for nefarious means.
“Such indebtedness gives China significant leverage over Pacific Island countries and may see China place pressure on Pacific nations to convert loans into equity in infrastructure,” The Lowy Institute warned.
“It’s not win-win for China and the recipient, but simply win for China, which not only gets access to local resources and new markets, and forward presence, but can coerce the recipient state to pay a ‘tribute’ to Beijing by ceding local assets when it can’t pay back its debts.”
The biggest fear among China’s Australian critics is that it will use its financial leverage for nefarious means.
“Such indebtedness gives China significant leverage over Pacific Island countries and may see China place pressure on Pacific nations to convert loans into equity in infrastructure,” The Lowy Institute warned.
“It’s not win-win for China and the recipient, but simply win for China, which not only gets access to local resources and new markets, and forward presence, but can coerce the recipient state to pay a ‘tribute’ to Beijing by ceding local assets when it can’t pay back its debts.”
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