What if we had to sanction China?

A new strategic review of Australia’s trade with China, and what the alternatives might be, is in order, writes Alan Kohler. Photo: TND

This thought became a bit less hypothetical last week when United States House of Representatives speaker, Nancy Pelosi, stepped onto Taiwanese soil.

One can now imagine teams of analysts in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade producing briefing papers for federal cabinet on the prospects of Australian sanctions against China – what they might involve, and how much of a disaster it would be for the Australian economy.