原文
Senator Jacqui Lambie says Australia should ditch China FTA
NICK CLARK, Federal Political Editor, Mercury
July 14, 2016 12:03pm
TASMANIAN independent senator Jacqui Lambie wants the Turnbull Government to cancel the China Australia Free Trade Agreement because of the Asian superpower’s “bad behaviour” in the South China Sea.
“Australia meekly signing a bad trade deal with China last year has encouraged their Communist Government — and contributed to their aggressive, dangerous and bad international behaviour in Asian international waters,” Senator Lambie said today.
An international court has ruled against China’s building of artificial islands in the South China Sea, where much of the multi-billion dollar two-way international trade between Australia and China travels.
Senator Lambie said peaceful economic, sporting and cultural actions against China would encourage it to respect international law.
“Last year I voted against CHAFTA [the trade deal] and warned the Parliament about continuing Chinese aggression in international Asian waters. I still stand by the reasons why CHAFTA should have been opposed.”
Her call comes as the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop condemned Labor Senator Stephen Conroy for urging Australia to send warships and aircraft to the South China Sea. |