"It would not be possible for a credible Australian government to ignore any abrogation of the 'one country, two systems' arrangement for Hong Kong. That would have to be met with targeted sanctions at least as significant as those imposed on Russia for its proxy invasion of western Ukraine." Beijing on Thursday reacted furiously to US President Donald Trump signing legislation designed to support pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, summoning US ambassador Terry Branstad to lodge a protest over American "meddling" in China's internal affairs. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Mr Abbott also said any attempt by China to coerce or take control of Taiwan would have "incalculable" consequences, "the least of which would be an arms race in East Asia unprecedented in history". Taiwan considers itself an independent state but this is not recognised by China. He said China had become the country's biggest trade customer out of self-interest, not as a favour, and played down the consequences for the domestic economy if Australia applied sanctions.

"Any form of economic sanction would hurt them as much as us and, as most of our exports are commodities, at least in the short term we could readily find alternative buyers amongst alternative suppliers' current customers," Mr Abbott said. Loading Mr Abbott's comments come after days of concern over claims the Chinese government tried to install an agent in federal Parliament. The former prime minister acknowledged he had been more conciliatory toward Beijing when he was in the top job but said that was when China "seemed to be liberalising". "That was then, this is now. I think quite a lot has changed since 2014," he said.

"There's the problems in Hong Kong, there's even greater assertiveness in the South China Sea and elsewhere. There's the complete dropping of the 'bide and hide' approach that had prevailed for 20-odd years. There's the Uighurs. There's the continued and augmented oppression and surveillance of anyone who thinks or acts differently." A bombshell leak of internal Chinese Communist Party documents has exposed in unprecedented detail China's crackdown on the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. That was then, this is now. I think quite a lot has changed since 2014. Former prime minister Tony Abbott The US has conducted freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea to demonstrate to Beijing that it does not accept China's claims over the disputed waters. The sea sits between China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines, and is also heavily relied upon by Japan and South Korea. Mr Abbott said he had considered launching our own naval operations in the South China Sea while he was prime minister.

"I was certainly thinking about it ... America shouldn't have to do all the heavy lifting," he said. "I certainly would be supportive of Australia doing freedom of navigation exercises. Loading "My understanding is that without much fanfare, Britain and France have done freedom of navigation exercises. I think it's probably time for Australia to do one." At a speech in New Delhi last week, Mr Abbott said his post-parliamentary mission would be to advance Australia's relationship with India. He said this goal had been overlooked in favour of developing relations with China and it was now evident "Australia might have put too many eggs into the China basket". But Mr Abbott said it was important that criticism of the Chinese Communist Party not be mistaken for criticism of Chinese people, especially those who were also Australians.