Scott Morrison draws fire for ‘One Country Two Systems’ comment in relation to China and Taiwan

Labor has slammed the Prime Minister after he created a flurry of confusion over Australia’s position on one of the world’s most fraught geopolitical questions: China’s claim over Taiwan.

Australia maintains a one-China policy on Taiwan, which means it does not recognise the self-governing island as a state. 

But it only “acknowledges” Beijing’s position that Taiwan is merely a rebellious province of the People’s Republic of China, and still supports Taiwan’s participation in international organisations. 

That ambiguity helps Australia to maintain trade, education and diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

But when asked about Taiwan during a 3AW radio interview last week, Scott Morrison said Australia had “always understood” the “One Country Two Systems” arrangement and would “continue to follow our policies there”.

Comments cause stir over possible policy shift 

“One Country Two Systems” is actually the formulation that China uses – and Australia accepts – to describe the way it governs Hong Kong, which the United Kingdom handed back to Beijing in 1997.

Mr Morrison’s gaffe caught immediate attention because it made it appear that he was endorsing China’s position on Taiwan.

In recent decades, Beijing has suggested it could rule Taiwan using the same One Country Two Systems principle adopted for Hong Kong.

But no major political parties in Taiwan actually accept that proposal, and Australian diplomats have been pressing for it to be allowed to participate in more international forums.

Morrison refuses to admit bungle

In the wake of last week’s interview, Australian officials told the ABC that the Prime Minister had made a mistake.

But Scott Morrison created fresh uncertainty last night when SBS News asked him if he’d made a mistake on 3AW and he replied “no” – seemingly backing in the position.

“What we know is that we have a situation with China in which we’ve recognised how they see these relationships in the region, and particularly in relation to Taiwan and Hong Kong and things of that nature,” he said.

“Australia understands that that has always been the basis of our policy.”

Diplomats, officials and Federal MPs contacted by the ABC in the wake of the interview said they couldn’t understand Mr Morrison’s comment given there was no shift in Australia’s position.

“I assume he just made a mistake and didn’t want to admit it,” one senior diplomat told the ABC.

The Federal Government subsequently issued a formal clarification this morning, confirming that Mr Morrison did speak in error last week.

“Australia’s one-China policy has not changed,” the spokesperson said.

“However, Australia maintains close and positive unofficial ties with Taiwan, an important trade and economic partner.

“The Prime Minister’s comments on ‘One Country Two Systems’ were in relation to Hong Kong.”

The Federal Opposition has accused Mr Morrison of bungling his words on a highly sensitive diplomatic issue, and the Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong took aim at Mr Morrison on social media.

“Either Scott Morrison has substantially shifted Australia’s policy on Taiwan, adopting Beijing’s position and ending 50 years of bipartisanship — or he’s lying to cover up his mistake,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Given his form, my assumption is it’s the latter.”

There’s been no formal response from Taiwan, but one source inside its government played down the significance of the controversy when contacted by the ABC.