Australia and China: Trade flows and security tensions shape ties
Albanese's second visit to China, where he will meet President Xi Jinping, comes after Canberra stepped up screening of Chinese investment in critical minerals and as U.S. President Donald Trump rattles the global economy with sweeping import tariffs.
Here is a timeline of relations between Australia and China over recent years:
Nov 17, 2014 - Australia sealed a landmark free trade agreement with top trade partner China, concluding a decade of negotiations. It comes into effect in late 2015.
Dec 5, 2017 - Australia, concerned about Chinese influence, announces a ban on foreign political donations to prevent external interference in its politics.
Aug 23, 2018 - Australia bans Huawei Technologies from supplying equipment for its planned 5G broadband network, citing national security regulations.
Apr 2020 - Australia seeks support for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. China's then ambassador to Australia says that in response to the call, the Chinese public would boycott Australian wine, beef and tourism.
Jun 9, 2020 - China urges students going overseas to think carefully before choosing Australia, citing racist incidents, threatening a $27.5 billion market for educating foreign students.
Aug 2020 - Australian citizen Cheng Lei, a business anchor for Chinese state television in Beijing, is detained.
Nov 27, 2020 - China announces temporary anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine. Shipments of Australian live lobsters, timber and barley are also blocked or restricted around this time. China's embassy lists 14 grievances with Australia, including the blocking of 10 Chinese investments on national security grounds.
May 22, 2022 - Australia's Labor Party, led by Albanese, wins the general election ending almost a decade of conservative rule.
Nov 15, 2022 - Albanese meets Xi on the sidelines of the G20 in Indonesia. It is the first leaders' meeting since 2016.
Jan 3, 2023 - China allows three government-backed utilities and its top steelmaker to resume coal imports from Australia.
Aug 5, 2023 - China ends 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley.
Oct 11, 2023 - China releases Australian journalist Cheng Lei after three years in a Beijing prison on national security charges.
Oct 22, 2023 - China agrees to review dumping tariffs of 218% on Australian wine. Australia pauses WTO complaint.
Nov 6-7, 2023 - Visiting Beijing, Albanese tells Xi and Premier Li Qiang that a strong relationship between the two countries was "beneficial into the future". Xi says stable bilateral ties served each other's interests and both countries should expand their cooperation.
Jan 18, 2024 - Australia rejects comments by China's ambassador seeking to deflect blame from China's navy for the injury of Australian military divers in an incident near Japan in November.
Feb 5, 2024 - A Beijing court hands Australian writer Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence, five years after he was first detained in China and three years after a closed-door trial on espionage charges.
Mar 29, 2024 - China lifts tariffs on Australian wine, triggering a surge in imports.
Dec 3, 2024 - China lifts final restrictions on Australian beef.
Dec 12, 2024 - Australia strikes rugby league funding deal with Papua New Guinea that is contingent on its Pacific Islands neighbour rejecting security or policing ties with China.
Dec 26, 2024 - China resumes imports of Australian lobster.
Feb 21, 2025 - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong raises concerns with Chinese counterpart over inadequate notice given by the Chinese navy of a live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights.
May 3, 2025 - Albanese's Labor government is re-elected for a second term in national elections.
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CNN
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- CNN
Taiwan is paralyzed by political gridlock. A mass recall vote could break the statemate
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Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who has struggled to get his agenda through parliament, has endorsed the recall as he tries to keep relations onside with the United States and counter growing threats from China. Here's what to know about this massive political showdown Taiwan's constitution allows for lawmakers to be put to a recall vote after their first year in office if at least 10 percent of registered voters in their constituency sign a petition. It is a system that makes recalls quite common, but this is a record number of recalls for the island. Supporters of the recall movement have portrayed their campaign as 'anti-communist,' seeking to get rid of 'pro-China' opposition KMT lawmakers they perceive as collaborators of Beijing's ruling Communist Party, which vows to 'reunify' Taiwan, by force if necessary. 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'It is important for any democracy to maintain check and balance.' At the heart of this political fracas is two competing visions for Taiwan and the island's relationship with China. The ruling DPP party is openly loathed by Beijing, which has cut off all official communication with Taipei since they came to office. The DPP views Taiwan as separate from China and has seen repeated success in recent years at general elections, especially among younger voters. The KMT favors warmer ties with Beijing and sees Taiwan as part of a 'one China,' though both sides agreed to disagree what that China means. China's Communist leadership is far more willing to talk to the KMT. The result of the recall will determine whether Lai and his ruling DPP can implement policies that will shore up US support, or whether he becomes a lame duck president that can't get much done. 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The result of the recall could also impact Lai's standing with the Trump administration during a highly-anticipated and sensitive transit stopover in the US next month while on his way to visiting Paraguay, one of Taiwan's few remaining diplomatic allies. 'If the recalls flop and the DPP is not successful, the KMT is going to feel very empowered, and President Lai will be in a much less strong position going on these transit tours,' Nachman said. President Lai's DPP party currently control just 51 seats in Taiwan's 113 seat legislature. If KMT lawmakers lose their seats, by-elections must be held within three months. That could then provide the DPP an opening to win back enough seats to reclaim a parliamentary majority. The DPP would need to win at least six seats in the by-elections to meet the 57-seat majority threshold. But if they oust enough lawmakers – 12 – they could gain a majority immediately, even before the by-elections take place. A successful recall would empower Lai. 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Associated Press
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Asian shares rise, buoyed by expectation of more trade pacts after US-Japan tariff deal
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Bloomberg
a minute ago
- Bloomberg
Some Canadian Leaders Want Thaw With China to Offset US Trade War
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