The White House’s Indo-Pacific coordinator, Kurt Campbell, has slammed Beijing’s decision to punish Australia with billions of dollars worth of export restrictions as a form of “dramatic economic warfare” that sought to hurt the nation’s economic and political standing. Speaking at a digital conference hosted by think tank Lowy Institute, Campbell addressed the significant tensions in the Indo-Pacific that had grown as a result of Beijing’s economic and military tactics in the region. “China’s preference would have been to break Australia—to drive Australia to its knees,” Campbell said. But Campbell pointed to Australia’s strong relationships with its international partners, including through the Australia-UK-U.S. defence pact, AUKUS, and the strategic dialogue between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, dubbed “the Quad.” “The United States is not leaving the Indo-Pacific,” Campbell said, reiterating the political and military support Australia would continue to receive. Beijing had previously claimed its trade sanctions on …