Beijing sent a list of 14 grievances to Australia supposedly justifying its economic coercion against it.

The list is revealing.

It shows the PRC holds countries responsible for their free *civil societies* & serves as a template for illiberal order-building.

Some thoughts: 1/ https://twitter.com/smh/status/1328959892435197954

The list is long:

- Investment scrutiny
- Huawei
- Interference legislation
- Visas
- COVID inquiry
- HR criticism
- SCS stance
- Spreading US "disinformation"
- BRI disinterest
- Think tanks
- PRC journalists
- Reporting cyber attacks
- CCP criticism
- Media

2/

An old view was that China used econ coercion when core interests had been crossed. That's outdated.

The list is also notable in other respects:

1) It is hypocritical
2) It expects AUS to give up sovereignty in key areas
3) It punishes AUS for the actions of its citizens

3/

The PRC does what it accuses AUS of doing. It:

- limits foreign investment
- limits foreign involvement in its politics
- erects visa barriers
- treats journalists far worse
- condemns other governments
- has antagonistic media
- limits provincial foreign policy freelancing

4/

Some of these complaints ask AUS to effectively surrender partial sovereignty.

The PRC is saying Australia must:

- allow states like Victoria to run their own FP
- allow PRC interference in politics
- allow Huawei access
- not restrict investment
- not report cyberattacks

5/

Some of these are punishments for civil society's actions, not the government's:

- think tank research
- media criticism
- criticism by individual officials

We've seen this before in China's punishment of Norway and Sweden.

6/

China is not obligated to trade with AUS, but that misses an interesting point.

The deployment of coercive economic leverage to shape AUS internal behavior is a kind illiberal of order-building.

This list is a partial guide to the norms of that illiberal order.

/End