The Chinese regime’s trade war on Australia appears to be backfiring after strong demand for Australian exports have resulted in the nation recording its fourth-highest trade surplus. Preliminary international trade figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Monday show Australia recorded a $9 billion goods trade surplus in December, up from $7.4 billion in November. While imports from China fell by $641 million or 7 percent, exports to China increased by $2.3 billion or 21 percent in December, driven primarily by iron ore and wheat. This comes amid China’s economic trade sanctions, which has seen trade disruptions to Australian beef, wine, barley, lobster, timber, and cotton. Furthermore, China paid 9 percent more per tonne for iron ore in December compared to in November while total iron ore exports increased by 15 percent. Australia-China Relations Institute Director James Laurenceson told The Australian that Beijing has been “unable or unwilling …