I think back in 2018, China already applied pressure quietly just like you wanted, besides the warning after warning. But people tend to make Huawei issue bigger than it is. Sure Huawei is a national champion for China. But China has tens of thousands of other companies that also doing businesses with Australia. China can't sacrifice them for Huawei alone. China can't sacrifice tens of billions of dollars worth of business to protect couple hundred millions of business. Like I said, it was a different time. At that time, there are not much dispute with Australia except with this Huawei issue. As always, China always do thing propotionately despite what the west claimed otherwise.

And now China is hitting them where it hurts when Australia is getting belligerent.