THREAD: In the past - a decade or two ago - I could see the case for "constructive engagement" with #China

Of course #CCP has always been repressive, but a decade or two ago, there was some space for civil society, media, lawyers, religion, even some dissent - limited, but real

BUT NOW, today, #XiJinping's regime has snuffed out every available space, cracked down brutally on every form of dissent, left no corner unturned in trying to jail, disappear, silence or eliminate critics

There is no space left. And if we don't act, our freedoms will be next/

This is a regime that is committing genocide against #Uyghurs, atrocities in #Tibet, destroying #HongKong's freedoms, breaking international treaties and committing many other crimes against humanity

So enough. Enough of kowtowing, pussyfooting, tiptoeing and mixed messages /

If #XiJinping wants to play hard ball, it's time for the free world to play hard ball.

It's time for robust, coordinated, targeted, global sanctions against the #CCP regime & their proxies everywhere

Not just #Magnitsky sanctions, though that would be a start. But sanction key #CCP State-owned enterprises, & sectors that deploy slave labour or prop up the regime

At the same time diversify supply chains, stop producing goods made by slave labour in #China, invest elsewhere

And crucially - the free world must stand together: politically, diplomatically, morally, symbolically and economically

Buy Australian wine, buy Korean or Japanese electronics, buy Taiwanese products, invest in India, Indonesia, Brazil, and trade with EU, US & Canada too

People-to-people exchanges with #China are good if we can do them without #CCP - and we must do everything possible to break down barriers, scale the Great Firewall and counter the CCP's propaganda

We must be deeply pro-China in the very real meaning of the term - defending the people of China, their rights, freedoms, dignity - which means taking on #CCP head-on

In 1949 Mao said "the Chinese people have stood up"

Now the free world must stand up for the Chinese people.