Latest news with #Australia-China
RTHK
21-07-2025
- Business
- RTHK
Albanese visit elevated Sino-Australia ties: chamber
Albanese visit elevated Sino-Australia ties: chamber President Xi Jinping hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People last week. Photo: Xinhua Jason Chang speaking to Chloe Feng A senior representative of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said that the week-long China visit by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked a "strategic shift" in bilateral ties for both countries. In a high-profile tour, Albanese visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu over six days earlier this month, in what's dubbed as "panda diplomacy" to woo business opportunities and investment from the mainland. President Xi Jinping also hailed the visit as a "reset" of ties between the two nations, after relations deteriorated following a call by Albanese's predecessor, Scott Morrison, to launch an independent investigation into the causes of the Covic pandemic. But in an interview with RTHK, Jason Chang, the chamber's deputy chair, said that the two countries were now on the track to elevate their relations to the next stage. "In my opinion, the trip was one of the most significant in the Australia-China bilateral history, as it's the first one that's occurred since the period of geopolitical uncertainty, after the stabilising of the two countries' relations," Chang said. He added Albanese's second visit to China, following his first in 2023, boosted confidence among businesses. "Despite the geopolitical uncertainties, China, in fact, remained Australia's largest trading partner, and for the past 16 years, the China market [to Australia] is larger than that of Japan, South Korea, the US, and India, combined. "There aren't many countries in the world that has such a large proportion of its trade and export with a single country," said Chang, who's also the co-founder and chief executive of EMR Capital. The trade veteran, whose company focuses on natural resources, critical minerals and energy transition, also noted while the partnership in clean energy-related technologies came "naturally given their complementary economics", the two sides could also look into other areas, such as education and sports. "China has leading-edge technology in many segments and has invested significantly, in EVs, energy storage technology over the last few decades. "At the same time, Australia has significant IPs and skills in all of these areas, including resources, energy, and education. "Significant innovation is happening in China, there's some groundbreaking technologies, as we all know, and they have so much to offer to students from Australia and around the world," he said. Looking ahead, Chang expected the two sides to continue to manage differences, while enhancing bilateral trade and investment appetite against the backdrop of US tariff threats.
Sky News AU
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Australia needs the United States for defence, but the US needs Australia too: Albanese government
The trip began with US defence official Elbridge Colby saying that a condition of the AUKUS pact should be that Australia agrees to join the US in any China Taiwan conflict. The Financial Times reported Mr Colby pressed both Australia and Japan to say what role they would play if the US and China went to war over Taiwan. The Albanese government has disregarded these kinds of statements, figuring Mr Colby has about as much status as Australia's Assistant Defence Minister Peter Khalil. Sources indicate that while Australia needs the United States for defence security, the US also needs Australia. However, shadow defence minister Angus Taylor told Sky News that the government should align with the US on its Taiwan position. 'We have a commitment, as does the United States to the status quo in and around Taiwan,' Mr Taylor said on Friday. 'That means peace in the Taiwan Strait. That means a secure Taiwan.' While critics accused the prime minister of engaging in soft diplomacy and indulging in nostalgia during his China visit, Mr Albanese has insisted the trip was a success. In a statement concluding his diplomatic visit, Mr Albanese said the trip "marks another important step in the Australia-China relationship". "A stable and constructive relationship with China is in Australia's national interest," he said on Friday. "We will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest." The prime minister said he had made Australia's position on regional security 'very clear' to the Chinese leadership. He raised concerns over Chinese military activity near Australia, particularly naval operations in international waters that coincided with Operation Talisman Sabre. However, he avoided clashing with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the Darwin Port, China's support for Russia or military drills near Australian waters. 'President Xi Jinping said that China engaged in exercises just as Australia engages in exercises,' Mr Albanese said. 'I said what I said at the time … but that we were concerned about the notice and the ways that it happened, including the live-fire exercises.' In response, President Xi reportedly defended China's actions, saying Beijing had the right to conduct its own military drills. The opposition has attacked Mr Albanese's trip to China, characterising it as bloated and lacking hard outcomes. Shadow finance minister James Paterson told Sky News the visit was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent'. 'I do wonder whether… a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas… is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China,' he said. 'There is so much else at stake in our other international relationships.' Former Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo echoed the criticism, suggesting the prime minister should have tried to meet with the US instead. 'I wouldn't have done the six days with the pandas and all the rest of it,' Mr Pezzullo told Sky News on Satruday. 'I would have had a shorter, sharper visit. The engagement with the President is important… but the rest of it was optional.' He also said he would have encouraged the prime minister to have 'blunt' discussions behind closed doors about Taiwan, stressing that any conflict would drag Australia in and have devastating consequences.
Perth Now
19-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
‘Reliable': China's big call on Albo trip
Anthony Albanese has landed back in Australia after six days abroad touting Australia's trade and tourism offerings in China. The Prime Minister has been keen to reframe the Australia-China relationship in friendlier terms, steering away from the increasingly militaristic tone to focus on a peaceful coexistence ensured through deeper economic interdependency. 'Overwhelmingly, what we discuss as moving forward is issues of today and tomorrow, rather than the past,' Mr Albanese told reporters on his final day in Chengdu, a major research hub in western China. 'What I speak about is the potential that's there to grow the relationship, to develop further economic ties. Anthony Albanese in Shanghai with fiancé Jodie Haydon and Socceroos great turned Shanghai Port FC coach Kevin Muscat. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: News Corp Australia 'We – of course, as I've said repeatedly – we co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must, but we don't want those disagreements to define our relationship either. 'So what we do is talk about how we can co-operate further in the future.' His message has gone down well in Beijing, with Chinese state media eagerly lapping up every photo op and flattering remark Mr Albanese made. Mr Albanese's message has seemingly gone down well with Beijing. Supplied/PMO Credit: Supplied Chinese state media had only good things to say after the two leaders met. Supplied/PMO Credit: Supplied The Global Times is a leading English-language propaganda mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Doing its best to imitate a Western-style publication, it is often used to circulate the CCP's various pet peeves and routinely takes scathing shots at Australia. But the Chinese government tabloid has had only good things to say after Mr Albanese met with Xi Jinping and other party top brass in the middle of the trip. 'The most important insight this gives us is that treating each other as equals, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and engaging in mutually beneficial co-operation serve the fundamental interests of both China and Australia and the two peoples,' it cited the Chinese President as saying in his remarks at the top of the big meet — a striking similarity to Mr Albanese's own words. (L-R) Mr Albanese with Tourism Australia's Robin Mack, vice president Edison Chen, and CEO Jane Sun. Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia More tellingly, it summed up the state visit as a revival of 'Australia's independent China policy', speaking to the elephant in the room. Donald Trump has made clear China is the main game when it comes to the foreign policy focus of his second administration. Its exploding middle class and relentless growth is evidence of an economic model that could rival the US. Similarly, China's rapid expansion of its nuclear and conventional arsenals has raised questions about how it might use its might, sparking warnings from Washington that Mr Xi is eyeing an invasion of Taiwan. It is with that concern that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded the Albanese government hike Australia's defence spending to at least 3.5 per cent — a request Mr Albanese has rejected even as his deputy and defence minister, Richard Marles, said China's military build-up is driving 'security anxiety' in Canberra. Brushing off the Trump administration's warnings as needless warmongering, the resistance to the US defence demand has not gone unnoticed in Beijing, which has eagerly seized on global trade uncertainty driven by tariffs. In an opinion piece on Thursday, the Global Times said Mr Albanese's 'trip has come at a time of global turmoil instigated by the US'. 'The prime minister's critics are accusing him of prioritising the China relationship over the US relationship, but this is a misrepresentation,' it read. 'The simple reality is that China is a reliable partner.' The piece went on to say 'Australia's relationship with the US has deteriorated' due to tariffs imposed 'despite Australia being the US' most reliable ally'. Mr Albanese met with China's President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. Source - PMO Credit: Supplied Mr Albanese visits The Great Wall of China with his fiance Jodie Haydon. NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer Credit: NewsWire 'The contrast between China's steady reliability and the US' erratic demands is being noticed by the Australian people – opinion polls in Australia show falling confidence in the US and rising confidence in China,' it claimed. Throughout the trip, Mr Albanese has leaned heavily on his mantra of co-operating with China where possible and disagreeing where necessary, making clear chasmic differences remain between Canberra and Beijing. But his messaging from the glitz of central Shanghai, to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and the panda breeding capital of Chengdu, is that peace through trade and people-to-people ties are the best ways to navigate the challenges in the relationship. It is not a new approach — the EU took it with post-Soviet Russia and was blindsided after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Whether Mr Albanese's China push will make Australia vulnerable down the line will be a matter for future generations.
Sky News AU
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Courageous' for PM to embark on six-day tour of increasingly ‘dangerous' China
Former Liberal MP Jason Falinski says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was 'courageous' to visit China for as long as he did. Anthony Albanese on Friday wrapped up his six-day visit to China where he held talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other senior leaders in Beijing earlier this week. While the PM touted the trip as "another important step in the Australia-China relationship", he has come under fire for not pressing President Xi on more serious foreign policy issues.
Sky News AU
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Albanese ‘in Beijing's pocket' following fluffy China visit
Former Howard government minister Peter McGauran says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to be in 'Beijing's pocket' after his trip to China. Albanese on Friday wrapped up his six-day visit to China where he held talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and other senior leaders in Beijing earlier this week. While the PM touted the trip as "another important step in the Australia-China relationship", he has come under fire for not pressing President Xi on more serious foreign policy issues.
