Only Australian's decide the future of Australia - Not China

23rd May, 2018

With news China has now threatened Australia with what would essentially be a trade war, Chinese state media calling Australia arrogant, and the Chinese's government being angry with Australia and contemplating making Australia pay for its arrogance by threatening to cut Australia's imports by billions of dollars, then my fellow Australians we must ask ourselves just who is running Australia, and most importantly are our free trade and other bilateral agreements worth the paper they're written on, when our sovereign country can be threatened in this manner.

Let me be very clear if anyone has the right to be angry its ordinary Australians. Australia is a sovereign country (as is China), and no longer will we accept Australia being threatened, bullied, or accept the level of foreign interference and influence that has been occurring for so long, a position that's now confirmed by our Government and our very own security and intelligence agencies. Australians are very angry, and they have every right to be.

Australia is not a de facto state of China, and nor will we be directed for the fear of upsetting the Chinese let alone, any other country. Australians will decide Australia's future and our political system, political parties and our elected politicians are not for sale, and nor will we stand idly by and accept what has been occurring for too long, with former Australian Labor Senator Sam Dastyari's debacle being one such example.

I ask this seriously as with all the warnings we have heard from our government, and the evidence that we have seen and heard, firstly from our security and intelligence agencies, and secondly by the actions of our politicians and political parties themselves, I restate that no country has any place in deciding our domestic affairs, Australian politics or our national security interests.

It's time we take seriously the threats of China and reconsider our relationship and trading position if Australia continues to be threatened in the way and manner we have. Remember also that we are not a small country and nor will we continue to be pushed around any further.

Australia is a very forgiving and tolerant country, but rest assured China, any attempt to threaten our national interest, my fellow Australians or to continue to interfere or influence our domestic political agenda, then know that we take these threats very seriously, and likewise we will stand up to you and respond accordingly.

China it's clear that by your conduct that you only have yourselves to blame for the feeling of the Australian people, and you have seriously miscalculated the mood of Australians. Especially after the continuous warnings from our Government and our security and intelligence agencies, and know that your threats will now be assessed, and also know that the Australian people are now saying enough is enough.

We will act to protect Australia's national interest, and the interests that benefit all Australians, and not as it would appear to only act in the best interests of a foreign sovereign nation such as yourselves.

Were Australian and we look after one another. It's time to change Australia and together we can do it. It's also time for all Australians to be put first before anyone else, including any other sovereign county.

The times also come to re-examine all our free trade and bilateral agreements to ensure that Australia's national interest, and all Australians are protected.

Philip Couper

More: https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/china-has-threatened-to-cut-australian-imports-by-billions-of-dollars/news-story/3a25d11e0cffcae16a3cc92f22099c2c#.lw4r3