China’s shock move in battered Australian relationship: 'Difficult situation'
While relations between Australia and China have endured a torrid 18 months, a previously dismissive Beijing has taken a surprising and significant step to mending ties between the two countries.
On Thursday the new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, honoured NSW Police Senior Superintendent Kelly Foster, who died last year while trying to save a Chinese student Jennifer Qi when canyoning in the Blue Mountains.
After the ceremony at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, the ambassador had a few optimistic words about the battered relationship between China and Australia.
"This relationship is very important and this is good for both sides, and now we're in a difficult situation," Mr Xiao said according to the ABC.
"But from the Chinese side, we're ready to work together with our Australian counterparts to move towards the same direction [with] joint efforts, so we can move this relationship back on the right track, back to the right direction."
According to a press release from the Chinese embassy, Mr Xiao said diplomatic relations between China and Australia date back to 1972 and since then, the two countries have "cooperated closely".
He suggested the 50th anniversary of the ties could be an opportunity for Australia and China to "review the past and look to the future".
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This isn't the first time Mr Xiao has made a statement regarding the strained relationship, with hopes it could be improved
The same day Mr Xiao arrived in Australia he said a sound relationship between Australia and China "serves the fundamental interests of the two countries" and stability in the Asia Pacific.
"As long as the two sides adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equal treatment, inclusiveness and mutual learning, and firmly grasp the right direction of the development of bilateral relations, the road of China-Australia relations will become wider and wider," he said on January 26.
China and Australia have endured a strained relationship over the past two years.
In November 2020, a 14-point dossier, not too dissimilar to a list of grievances Chinese state media issued in July, was handed to Nine Newspapers by an unnamed Chinese diplomat.
Among the grievances were blocking Chinese investment in Australia including Huawei’s 5G rollout and the Belt and Road Initiative, Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s vocal stance on investigations into the origins of Covid-19, interference with “internal matters” such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang and its funding for “anti-China” research led by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
'Unacceptable': Australia blasts China's stance on Russia
While Mr Xiao said China was ready to work with Australia on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison came out on Friday and aired his concerns with China, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
"I particularly have been concerned at the lack of a strong response from China," the PM said.
China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying was asked on Thursday why China had not condemned Russia's military operation in Ukraine.
She refused to call Russia's move an invasion and said China will closely monitor the situation.
"China is closely monitoring the latest developments and calls on all sides to exercise restraint and prevent the situation from getting out of control," she said at a daily press conference.
Several countries, including Australia, acted swiftly to impose sanctions against Russia, but Mr Morrison expressed his shock at China's apparent decision to ease trade restrictions with China.
"That is simply unacceptable. China seeks to play a positive role in world affairs." he said.
"They say they seek peace and I welcome those sentiments and I welcome their comments which talk about trying to get to a position where these violent acts can cease.
"But that said, you don't go and throw a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period when they are invading another country."
Minister for Defence Peter Dutton also condemned China's inaction as "unacceptable" while speaking to Nine on Friday morning.
Mr Dutton said Russia and China were engaged in a "frankly unholy alliance" and said Chinese President Xi Jinping has power over Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"China and Russia have entered into this frankly unholy alliance and President Xi has a lot of power he can exert over President Putin," he said.
"He has chosen not to do that."
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