'Toxic climate' stops Australian business leaders speaking about China, thinktank says

Few are willing to wade into debate ‘for fear of being labelled an apologist’ for the Chinese government, China Matters warns

Australian business leaders are afraid to wade into public debate about China because of a “toxic climate” in which advocates of close economic ties may be labelled as apologists or appeasers, according to a thinktank chief.

With the diplomatic relationship between Australia and its largest trading partner coming under increasing strain, Michael Clifton, the chief executive of China Matters and a former Australian trade commission official, said people should be free to comment “without their character or loyalty being impugned”.

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from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3gmrs7j