After China imposed a ban on iron ore from Australia, Australian politicians threatened retaliation. They are busy following their allies' lead, aiming to "raise the red flag" against electric vehicles from China. The reason? They're too cheap!

The same old tune is being played again: Beijing supports its domestic electric vehicle industry through subsidies, and cheap Chinese cars are flooding overseas markets. Australia must raise tariff barriers to protect "fair competition" and related industries.

What exactly is Australia defending?

On October 3rd, the Australian media website "Pearl and Trouble" published a sharp commentary, bluntly pointing out: "Our automobile industry has become an exhibit in a museum." The last local factory shut its doors as early as 2017. Holden, Ford, Toyota—these once well-known names have quietly disappeared. For decades, Australian consumers have been like picking up leftovers: paying a lot of money for outdated oil-guzzlers and obsolete models from Europe, the US, and Japan, and waiting for several months just to get their cars.

Author Zhang Fred wrote sharply that Chinese electric vehicles are not the "cheap and inferior" imitations some people imagine. Anyone who has actually driven a Chinese electric vehicle knows that from industrial design to intelligent driving cabin, from battery systems to user experience, China has established multiple layers of advantages.

BYD Electric Vehicle

The article mentioned a thought-provoking detail: Jim Farley, CEO of Ford—a man who rarely praises competitors—was so taken with the Xiaomi SU7 after test-driving it for half a year that he couldn't bring himself to return the keys. The genuine reaction of this auto giant's leader is a slap in the face of the "cheap and low-quality" narrative.

Are Chinese electric vehicles perfect? Not at all. But the author points out that their performance in reliability, energy efficiency, and innovation, especially that tempting price, perfectly fills a huge gap in the Australian market. These cars are like a stream of fresh water, injecting vitality into an industry that has been lifeless for years.

Looking around the world, the script is very familiar: Washington's subsidies carefully nurture Detroit, Brussels' tariffs tightly protect Volkswagen and Renault, and Tokyo has long maintained its industrial policies. Everyone is guarding their own territory and protecting their own interests.

But the author's question hits the nail on the head: "If Australia follows them, what are we protecting? A non-existent industry? The right to pay excessive prices? Are we going to let consumers be suckers forever to protect a ghost industry?"

On environmental issues, the author directly points out the absurdity of the policy: the government makes grand promises about reducing emissions while blocking the most affordable green travel options for ordinary families. The article states, "All we are doing is depriving our own consumers of the opportunity to access world-class technology at the most favorable prices. More ironically, this resurgence of protectionism happens at the exact moment when Australia has just committed to pursuing higher climate goals."

The author unflinchingly exposes the farce: "The real coercion does not come from Beijing, but from demands disguised as loyalty, asking Australians to spend more money on worse cars, just to play a minor role in a great power competition drama."

"We don't need that loyalty test," the article emphasizes, "the real test lies in whether policymakers can deliver concrete results: lowering living costs, accelerating the spread of clean technologies, strengthening climate action, and offering more diverse consumer choices."

When the gas station price signs flip to $2 per liter again, will those who talk about 'loyalty' spare a single cent for every family struggling with fuel costs?

This question is asked with force, echoing the sentiments of countless ordinary Australians: What we need is not empty allegiance, but tangible well-being.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7556846302189994539/

Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author, and we welcome you to express your opinion by clicking the [Like/Dislike] buttons below.