China wants to use Australia as a 'political puppet'

Speaking of the recent Chinese boycott on Australian imports, Sky News contributor Cory Bernardi says “no one wins a trade war” and Australia would come off “second best” if tensions continue to escalate. On Tuesday, Beijing suspended imports from four Australian abattoirs citing labelling issues as the rationale behind the decision. Mr Bernardi said “the Chinese are not above putting their own interests to the forefront of everything and Australia has got to be prepared to weather whatever storm may come our way”. “Australia has got to be more self-sufficient and more independent” while simultaneously playing a “diplomatic game” with China. “The only way our economy can thrive and prosper into the future is not to raise taxes, not to increase regulation, not to get government bigger, but to get private industry and in particular small business back to work in as competitive an environment as possible,” Mr Bernardi told Sky News host Peter Gleeson. “We want to make sure we have a supply chain here not least of all for food and critical resources but to make sure we are adding value and dealing with trading partners who are reliable and consistent and who are not just going to use us as political puppets". News Corp Australia