Further Offending China !

 It seerms thast Australia is joining an international movement titled the " Magnitsky Act  " which would ban entry into this country for those who offend human rights laws.  This act is in force in the United States of America, Canada and Britain and is likely to be taken up soon by the European Union.

Not only would entry be barred for human rights offenders from other countries but the act makes provision for the seizure of assets.  It is probably the biggest change to Australa's sanctions regime for many decades and gives real teeth to the existing United Nations legislation which Human Rights proponents consider " opaque " !

It also has the likelihood of worsening the trade spat we are undergoing with China.  It is not hard to imagine this act being used to ban entry to Chinese officials involved in the crackdown on liberty in Hong Kong and the incarceration of Uighers in concentration camps in Xinjiang Province.

Individuals so banned will obviously claim to be carrying out the policies of the Beijing governmenrt and China will claim that we are interfering in their internal affairs.  The outcome will probably be an extension of Australian trade goods turned back at the Chinese border.

Applying the Magnitsky will be within the powers of Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister and each case will be considered on its merits.,  Considerations such as national security and trade will be taken into account, together with our obligations under diplomatic relations protocol..   Bans will be put in place by individual countries and not form a uniform ban common to all.

China is very sensitive to any form of criticism and this interruption to trade can be directly related to our demand for an intensive enquiry into how and where this coronavirus originated in Wuhan, China.  The Chinese government is digging in and attempting to shift news of the breakout to other countries, despite its actions to maintain medical silence when containment was possible.

This Chinese sensitivity takes the form of rejection of all blame. Science thinks the virus originated in what are called " wet markets " where native animals are butchered for human consumption and this virus has damaged international trade, put millions ourt of work and imposed a heavy death toll across the world. There is the expectation that it will linger for years to come.

Unfortunatelty, Australia has been singled out to suffer trade cuts to illustrate Chinese displeasure.  It is likely that our joining the Magnitsky Act will further aggravate tensions simple because out trade balance in their favour leaves us vulnerable.  If a prominent trade official is prevented from visiting this country we can expect further retalitaion on the trade front.

Obviously, our Foreign Affaits department will be aware of this risk but the worst of Chinese human rights abuses can not be ignored.  China is a member oif the world community of nations and is expected to act accordingly.

We are not going out of our way to pick a fight, but a trade loss is the price we have to pay for maintaining our integrity !