Australia's relationship with China appears increasingly rocky

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Australia and China's relationship has become tetchy over the past two months. Here's how we got to this point
By James Maasdorp
Posted1 day ago, updated22 hours ago

China's warning to its citizens not to travel to Australia is just the latest barb following two tense months between the two countries.(Reuters: Jason Lee)
Australia's relationship with China appears increasingly rocky by the day following China's alert to citizens urging them not to travel to Australia.
The Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported a "significant increase" in racist attacks on "Chinese and Asian people", a warning which came shortly after state-run tabloid Global Times told Chinese students to "be cautious about studying in Australia".
It's advice which the Australian Government has disputed, with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack rejecting the suggestion there had been an increase in racist attacks in Australia.
It comes after an escalation in trade tensions with China following Australia's calls for an independent inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
So how did Australia get to this point with its biggest trading partner?

 

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The relationship between the two countries has seen its fair share of differences — something the Prime Minister has acknowledged a number of times.

"We are two very different countries. We are a liberal democracy. They are a communist party state. We are not seeking to adopt their system and they are not seeking to adopt ours," Scott Morrison said in November.

"We recognise we have a great relationship but we know it can be better.

 

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Tension had been simmering between the two countries in recent years, with Australia's decision to ban the Chinese-owned tech giant Huawei from taking part in the rollout of 5G mobile infrastructure over national security concerns a major point of friction.

The advent of the coronavirus pandemic added more strain to relations. In April, Foreign Minister Marise Payne called for a global inquiry into China's handling of the outbreak, independent of the World Health Organisation.

Ms Payne told the ABC's Insiders program that China must allow transparency in the process, but refused to be drawn on whether she trusted China over its handling of the pandemic.

A few days before, Mr Morrison had said there had been "very valid" criticisms of the WHO, following the United States' threat to withdraw funding after President Donald Trump claimed it had promoted Chinese "disinformation" about the virus.

Mr Morrison then lobbied Mr Trump and other nations to build a coalition to give the WHO — or another body — powers equivalent to those of a weapons inspector to avoid another catastrophic pandemic.

A fully-fledged diplomatic stoush was brewing as China's ambassador suggested the Chinese public may boycott Australian products if Australia continued its push for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

The Federal Government dug its heels in, with Trade Minister Simon Birmingham labelling the remarks "economic coercion".

China slaps huge tariffs on Australian barley
More than a week before they were announced, Australian grain groups issued a joint statement saying they understood China was potentially proposing to place tariffs on barley imported from Australia "as a result of their ongoing anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigation".

Federal Government sources suggested the investigation could be used as a cover to impose the tariffs in retaliation against Australia's push for the COVID-19 inquiry.

 

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High-ranking calls to China went unanswered as the Federal Trade Minister sought to speak to his Chinese counterpart. A day later, China's 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley for the next five years was announced.

"Australia does not believe that the decision China's made is justified or defensible in accordance with anti-dumping practices," Mr Birmingham said, who added he had still not heard from China's Commerce Minister Zhong Shan.

China has also imposed an import ban on four Australian abattoirs, blacklisting three red meat producers in Queensland and one in NSW.

'Nothing but a joke'
Australia and the United States' call for an independent COVID-19 inquiry was followed by a European Union motion at the World Health Assembly (WHA), with China indicating it would back the evaluation of the response to the pandemic

 

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But while some Coalition MPs lauded the motion as vindication for Australia, Beijing's embassy in Canberra issued a statement saying the inquiry being considered by the WHA was "totally different" to Australia's proposal.

"To claim the WHA's resolution a vindication of Australia's call is nothing but a joke," the statement said.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud insisted Australia was not in a trade war with China and that the country would not retaliate to the tariffs.

Just a few days later, China's top diplomat in WA unexpectedly returned to Shanghai, citing "a health issue".

Hong Kong becomes a new point of tension
Amid the ongoing response to the global pandemic, Beijing moved to pass a controversial national security law on Hong Kong, expanding its ability to monitor and oversee Hong Kong's security operations and target people seeking to undermine China's authority.

 

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Australia banded with the United Kingdom and Canada in describing the plan as deeply concerning and saying it undermined Hong Kong's autonomy.

In a joint statement issued by the three countries' foreign ministers, they suggested it could be a Chinese power grab.

"Making such a law on Hong Kong's behalf, without the direct participation of its people, legislature or judiciary, would clearly undermine the principle of 'One Country, Two Systems', under which Hong Kong is guaranteed a high degree of autonomy," the ministers said.

China's proposal followed widespread protests by Hong Kong residents concerned Beijing was undermining their freedoms. A Chinese state-controlled news agency accused the region's pro-democracy opposition of scheming "to create a 'colour revolution'" with support from the CIA.

Belt and Road agreement a sore point
Victoria's sole signing on to China's controversial Belt and Road initiative (BRI) has raised tensions within Australia as well as with allies.

 

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Victoria's deal has attracted criticism — the US Secretary of State warned it could impact the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership with Australia — while Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton called the BRI a "propaganda initiative from China", saying it would bring an "enormous amount of foreign interference".

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Belt and Road Initiative comes at a cost to those who sign on.
Mr Dutton's remarks earned a rebuke from China.

"The groundless accusations made by some Australian politicians are totally untenable," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijiang said in May.

"They only expose their negligence of the Australian people's interests and their sinister intentions of damaging China-Australia relations."

China says Australia is the source of trade tensions
China's Commerce Minister addressed the tariff on Australian barley for the first time on May 26, more than a week after it was announced.

 

[glockman]

Not only Oz, but more and more countries are fed up with the CCP. High fucking time!

It baffles me that some of the assholes in this forum have a disdain for the pap, yet support the CCP!

 

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Chinese Commerce Minister Zhong Shan said Australia had initiated 100 trade remedy investigations to China's one.(AP: Andy Wong)
Mr Zhong said the decision was a result of an 18-month investigation, saying China had "safeguarded the rights of all parties in China and Australia and listened to the opinions of stakeholders".

He said Australia was the source of trade tensions.

"Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia [in 1972], China has only launched [one] trade remedy investigation against Australia, which is the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy case against Australian barley," he said.

"During the same period, Australia initiated 100 trade remedy investigations against China.

"Among them, since this year, Australia has launched three cases against China. China has not launched a trade remedy investigation against any country this year."

Restrictions on foreign investment tightened
Australia recently unveiled an overhaul of the country's foreign investment rules which would see the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) having to approve all investments in a "sensitive national security business", regardless of the deal's value.

The Government wants the new system in place by January 1, 2021. The Prime Minister says he does not believe the rules would inflame tensions with China.

"I see no reason why that should be the case," Mr Morrison said.

"Countries make decisions on their own interests for their own rules and we respect the rules and interests of other countries."

China issues alert on travel to Australia

 

[laksaboy]

The best is to cut off all diplomatic ties with the PRC and chase its diplomats out of Australia.

 

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A day later, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued its alert, warning of a "significant increase" in racist attacks in Australia and urging people not to travel to the country.

There have been numerous reports of people of Asian appearance experiencing flagrant racism across Australia in the wake of COVID-19.

During the height of the pandemic, the ABC chronicled the stories of Asian Australians who had fallen victim to such attacks.

Mr Birmingham said the Chinese Government's claims were false and had "no basis in fact".

 

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Speaking on Insiders, Labor's deputy leader Richard Marles said he agreed with the Government's assessment.

"I've not witnessed it in quite the language that's been used by the Chinese, and ultimately, I do agree with Simon Birmingham in his comments about the fact that I don't think that that fairly describes where Australia is at," Mr Marles said.

"I mean, we're clearly not free from the issue of racism, and I'm sure that there are Chinese Australians who have been on the receiving end of that. But I think the way in which that statement is framed does not accurately describe where Australia is at.

"I think what this ultimately raises is the relationship between Australia and China has not been tracking in a very good direction for the last few years.

"It is a completely complex relationship where our trade matters, where there are hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs — farmers and people in rural Australia, people in a range of industries are dependent on that trade with China. And this is a relationship which has to be [dealt] with properly and taken seriously."

 

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Australia is sick of chicom irresponsible behaviour

 

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Australia says China travel warning 'unhelpful' amid escalating diplomatic row

 

[Peiweh]

So add Australia and New Zealand to the growing coalition - even Brazil. Soon it will be World VS China.

China is not your friend