Chinese embassy protest: Wild moment cops clash with demonstrators outside embassy as the communist superpower’s foreign minister meets Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong
Police have clashed with protesters demonstrating against the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
A gang of activists gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon to accuse China of human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang.
Footage showed dozens of protesters holding Tibetan flags and chanting “free Tibet” and other anti-China government slogans.
Officers were forced to remove activists who tried to enter the diplomatic complex where Yi met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The talks were aimed at stabilizing a rocky relationship that has been marred by China’s introduction of trade tariffs in the wake of the Covid pandemic – including on key Australian exports such as wine, seafood and beef.
A gang of activists gathered outside the Chinese embassy in Canberra on Wednesday afternoon to accuse China of human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang
Senator Wong (right) has arranged her sixth meeting with the visiting dignitary (left) to discuss trade, security and pandas
It was the sixth meeting between the two, with the pair discussing trade, security and even pandas.
Senator Wong also raised the issue of Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun, who has been sentenced to death in the authoritarian country.
Other issues raised included concerns about human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong and the future of Taiwan.
According to Senator Wong, the pair recognized that China and Australia both needed to manage their differences and focus on their shared interests.
After the meeting, Ms Wong said: “As Minister Wang expressed during our meeting, it is in both our interests to have a mature and productive relationship.”
Mr Yi (right) met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left)
“We discussed a range of shared interests and the progress we have made towards the agreed outcomes during the Sixth Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, including the resumption of the bilateral annual leaders’ meeting.
“We agreed to continue bilateral engagements on issues such as consular affairs, defense and trade, and to expand dialogue in key areas of interest, such as climate and energy cooperation in the Pacific.”
Ms Wong said the meeting was an opportunity to “exchange frank views” on the issues important to them and “manage their differences”.
The visiting Chinese dignitary is also expected to meet in the coming days with former Prime Minister Paul Keating, who has criticized the current government for its “foolish pro-American stance.”