Wanting Beijing To Join In Stopping Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, Australian PM: No Country Has As Big Impact As China

PM Australia Scott Morrison. (Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Secretary of Defense)

JAKARTA - China must act on its declaration to promote world peace, joining efforts to stop Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Australia's Prime Minister said on Monday, warning the world was in danger of being reshaped by an "arc of autocracy".

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said in a broad speech that the Russian invasion did not go according to the plans of its leader, Vladimir Putin, who he said had "overstated the capacity of how he might be able to prosecute such an illegal war".

"China has long claimed to have a role as one of the great powers in the world and a contributor to global peace and stability. No country will have a greater impact, in resolving this terrible war in Ukraine than China," PM Morrison said in response to questions after speech at the Lowy Institute think tank, citing Reuters March 7.

Furthermore, PM Morrison, whose government is at loggerheads with its biggest export partner over various issues, said he was disappointed by China's silence.

"I listened to the voice of the Chinese government when it condemned Russia's actions and there was a terrible silence," he said.

China has refused to call Russia's attack on Ukraine an "invasion" while calling on Western countries to respect Russia's "legitimate security concerns". They also called for a solution to the crisis through negotiations.

Russia has dubbed the campaign launched on February 24 a "special military operation", saying it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

However, Mr. Morrison called it a "gross violation of international law" and "the latest example of an authoritarian regime seeking to challenge the status quo through threats and violence".

While most countries have cut off trade with Russia and payment companies such as Visa and Mastercard suspended operations there. China has eased wheat tariffs on Russia and may supply its UnionPay system, Morrison said.

"To me, this really comes as a shock to the wider international interests. As long as they bet on this, then I'm afraid the bloodshed will continue," he criticized.

PM Morrison, whose comments represented a sharpening of Australia's criticism of China, also said China's silence revealed its natural affinity with Russia that had far-reaching implications.

"A new arc of autocracy instinctively aligns to challenge and rearrange the world order in their own image," said PM Morisson.

Further, on the same occasion, PM Morrison also questioned whether the invasion was in accordance with Putin's plan, as Putin said.

"There's no doubt that Mr. Putin didn't get what he was looking for. I think he's overestimating the capacity of how he could possibly sue this illegal war. The way he's just sent young conscripts into the fire, I don't see how that would resonate with good in Russia," said PM Morrison.

He added that he predicted resistance in Ukraine that would only grow with time. "I think any profit that could potentially be made would be very difficult to sustain."