China has issued a stark warning to Anthony Albanese about “provocative behavior” and economic sanctions ahead of his expected visit to Beijing later this year.
The communist power used its propaganda outlet the Global Times to denounce a delegation of Australian parliamentarians who met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen late on Tuesday.
The cross-party group of eight will spend four days in Taiwan’s capital Taipei for a series of meetings with senior economic, foreign ministries and security officials.
Under its One China policy, China claims sovereignty over Taiwan and insists it is not a separate country. Some experts fear that China could invade Taiwan and that Australia would be dragged into the resulting war.
The Global Times reported that the visit to Taiwan – led by Labor members Josh Wilson and Liberal Paul Fletcher – is “a test” for Mr Albanese, who could end negotiations over China’s crippling tariff on Australian wines.
China has issued a stark warning to Anthony Albanese about “provocative behavior” and economic sanctions ahead of his expected visit to Beijing later this year. Mr Albanese is pictured with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali on November 15, 2022
Liberal MP Paul Fletcher is pictured with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen on Tuesday evening
Qin Sheng, executive research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said: “The visit to Taiwan will only embarrass the Albanian government as it could disrupt the shaping of Chinese policy.”
Mr Qin warned that “there are still unresolved issues between China and Australia, such as the wine dispute. “It is unlikely that China will discuss this issue with Australia in the context of the visit of Australian parliamentarians to Taiwan.”
The bilateral relationship became fractured during the last years of the last coalition government.
The diplomatic row emerged as the Morrison government called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the Covid pandemic.
The move infuriated the authoritarian nation, which imposed huge tariffs on key Australian exports including wine, wine and coal.
Things have since thawed considerably under the Labor government elected in May 2022.
But the visit by the delegation – which also includes Labor members Graham Perrett, David Smith, Daniel Mulino and Catryna Bilyk, and Liberals Matt O’Sullivan and Claire Chandler – has outraged Beijing.
“By playing the Taiwan card, these MPs want to cause trouble in bilateral relations, seek international attention and gain political capital,” the Global Times thundered.
Unlike previous visits by Australian politicians, the current group of Taiwanese officials have allowed photographs of their meeting with President Tsai to be published.
Taiwan is Australia’s fourth largest export market and fifth largest trading partner, with gas, coal and iron ore being Australia’s top exports there.
Mr. Wilson told President Tsai that these numbers could rise “in areas such as the global clean energy transition, critical minerals, education and tourism.”
However, he did not shy away from mentioning Taiwan’s rising tensions with China.
“There is no doubt that the people of Australia and Taiwan have a shared interest in a region that is peaceful, stable, environmentally sustainable and prosperous – and together we support an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific based on respectful and collaborative participation in the rules . -based order,” he told President Tsai.
“Australia is committed to working with all our Indo-Pacific partners on that basis because we believe it is both the sensible and right thing to do…
“It is the only approach that will succeed in tackling challenges that need to be shared, such as climate change,” he said.
The photo shows Chinese troops taking part in marching exercises on the outskirts of Beijing. Some experts fear that China could invade Taiwan and that Australia would be dragged into the resulting war
Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, called on the prime minister to distance himself from the delegation of Australian politicians.
“If Albanians really want to restore ties with China, he must oppose and then curb the rogue behavior of parliamentarians visiting Taiwan,” he said.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said: “Australia values its deep and productive unofficial relationship with Taiwan, focused on trade and investment, cultural and people-to-people ties.”
“There has been no change to Australia’s long-standing bipartisan one-China policy.”