Protesters have caused multiple interruptions during an address in Sydney by China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian.
Key points:
- The ambassador spoke at a university in Sydney about bilateral relations
- Protesters intervened with concerns for Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong
- The ambassador’s speech was seen as an attempt to thaw icy relations between Australia and China.
The ambassador, appointed earlier this year, had begun talking about how to improve ties between the two countries when he was interrupted by successive protesters.
One protester described Xiao as a “representative of a dictatorship” and accused the Chinese government of committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang.
He was taken out by security guards.
A man was asked to leave the site before the event because he was wearing a military suit from the time of the Cultural Revolution that security described as “confrontational”.
Another protester had a sign that said “Free Tibet.”
However, another was escorted after he stood up and criticized China’s censorship, saying the people of Hong Kong and Tibet could not express their views freely.
Protesters made signs and shouted during Xiao Qian’s speech at a Sydney university.
The speech was widely seen as an attempt to thaw icy relations between the two countries, following trade sanctions and a recent “dangerous” encounter between a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian maritime surveillance aircraft over the China Sea. Southern.
“How can we keep the momentum and get our relationship back on track,” Xiao told the audience.
“This relationship is of a mutually beneficial nature,” he said, saying the “policy of friendly cooperation” remained unchanged.
But he added that in recent years the relationship has been “difficult”.
“Undeniably, there are certain areas where China and Australia have different views. These are the areas where we should continue to maintain a constructive dialogue.”
More to come.
Posted 1 h, 1 h ago, Friday, June 24, 2022 at 2:23 AM, updated 34 m ago, 34 minutes ago, Friday, June 24, 2022 at 2:59 AM