Tony Abbott Warns CCP Is Part of a ‘Very Serious Challenge’ to the West
Udumbara
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Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has warned the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is part of a serious challenge to the West.
Abbott argued the communist regime was more dangerous long-term than the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) due to its perceived economic clout and military buildup.
“There is no doubt China is engaged in grey zone warfare against many Western countries, including Australia, including Britain.”
Abbott raised concerns about the regime’s repeated cyber intrusions, tariffs, and unprovoked aggression toward Australia’s military in the South China Sea.
“All these cyber attacks, for instance, that are quite routine now. They’re hostile acts. In Australia’s case, for a period, there were $20 billion worth of trade boycotts,” he said.
“We’ve had incidents in the South China Sea where Chinese military personnel have acted aggressively and dangerously towards Australian ships and planes.”
Military Build Up
The former prime minister said he wants Australia to have a strong relationship with China but highlighted the need to be aware of the risk posed by Beijing.“I want the best possible relations with China, because the last thing we want to do is to see escalation,” Abbott said.
“But I think we have to be very realistic about the challenge that the Beijing regime currently poses. I should then add that none of us should have an argument with the Chinese people.”
Abbott was careful not to level his concerns at the Chinese people, but rather at the CCP regime.
“The Chinese people are good people, like people everywhere. There are lots of wonderful people of Chinese heritage in Australia, well, great Australian citizens,” he said.
“But the communist Beijing regime is part of a very serious challenge to the West generally. And as I’ve often said, because it is a first-rate economy, deeply integrated into the global economy, because we are now seeing an unprecedented military buildup by Beijing.”
The former prime minister reiterated the seriousness of the situation.
Beijing’s Nuclear Stockpile is Growing
The CCP’s nuclear stockpile has grown from 270 to 600 nuclear warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Beijing is also close to finishing the construction of 350 new ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) silos.
The United States has a total nuclear inventory of about 5,177, according to the report.
“Depending on how it decides to structure its forces, China could potentially have at least as many ICBMs as either Russia or the USA by the turn of the decade,” the report states.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has also previously raised concerns about the CCP’s military build up.
Former Labor Premier Spotted at Beijing Military Parade
Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews recently appeared at the Beijing military parade, where he was seen shaking hands with CCP leader Xi Jinping.He also appeared in a photo with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
