Controlling the Narrative and the Dilemma of Prioritizing Human Rights or Trade

For decades Australia has taken the approach that when it comes to China; we can criticise their human rights record without risking our trading relationship.

We told China we disapproved of their crackdown on students at Tiananmen Square in 1989, but continued to sell them iron ore.

Xi Jinping has made it clear that the arrangement has now changed, as he simultaneously takes the lessons Beijing learned at Tiananmen, and applies them to a crackdown on Muslims in his country's far west.

Guests:

Rose Tang, 1989 Tiananmen Square protester

Alim Osman, president, Uyghur Association of Victoria

Kevin Rudd, former Australian Prime Minister

Yaqiu Wang, researcher, Human Rights Watch