China says a “political force” in Australia that sees it as a rival and its development as a threat has been responsible for the deteriorating relationship between the two countries.
Key points:
- China has signed more than 50 agreements during the regional tour of Mr. Wang
- Discussions on a comprehensive regional trade and security agreement with 10 Pacific countries failed, but could resume next year
- Mr Wang’s trip ended in Timor-Leste on Saturday
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi commented on China-Australia relations with members of the Chinese media while visiting Papua New Guinea.
Wang said a re-establishment of the relationship required “concrete actions” and that there was “no autopilot.”
“At the core of the difficulties of Sino-Australian relations in recent years is that some political forces in Australia insist on seeing China as a rival rather than a partner and framing China’s development as a threat rather than a threat. opportunity, “he said. said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
“This has led to a significant regression of Australia’s many years of positive and pragmatic Chinese policy.
“The solution is to look at China-China-Australia relations in a sensible and positive way, maintain mutual respect, seek common ground while resolving differences and create the necessary conditions to get bilateral relations back on track. normal “.
The comments came when Mr. Wang was finishing an eight-country tour of the Pacific region that has raised concerns in Washington and Canberra.
Following her trip, Australia’s new Foreign Minister Penny Wong also flew to the region, visiting Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.
China has signed more than 50 agreements during the Pacific tour, but has failed to persuade 10 nations to sign a comprehensive regional trade and security agreement.
It now appears that talks on the deal could be delayed until next year and could lead to the creation of a new subregional discussion forum between China and the 10 Pacific nations that have diplomatic relations.
Agreements signed in Timor-Leste
China and Timor-Leste reached agreements on aviation, agriculture and technology. (Reuters: Lilio da Fonseca)
Wang ended his unprecedented tour of Timor-Leste on Saturday.
In the last part of his trip, he held a series of meetings with the President of Timor, Jose Ramos-Horta, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and former President Xanana Gusmao.
The two countries also signed several agreements on issues such as civil aviation, agriculture and increased economic and technical cooperation, and a media license agreement.
He flew to Timor-Leste from Port Moresby, where he had meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister of PNG during a very short visit.
The PNG-limited timetable was probably due to the fact that the country is in the middle of an election campaign, but Prime Minister James Marape responded to criticism that the timing was awkward or inappropriate.
“Although we were not the main point of the visit to the Pacific, we are privileged to have received it,” he said.
“The China-PNG relationship cannot be compromised or sabotaged: it is a very important relationship.”
In PNG, minor agreements were signed to promote investment in green development, aid for COVID-19 and the development of an anti-narcotics center.
“Give Australian journalist a chance”
There has been criticism of limited access to the media during Mr. Wang.
A joint press conference was scheduled in Port Moresby, but when it was about to begin, the media said that after the two ministers had spoken, only a Chinese journalist and a PNG journalist could ask a question of their own. Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Solomon Islands journalists boycotted a press conference when similar rules were set in advance.
However, when Mirriam Zarriga, a journalist with the PNG newspaper The Post Courier, asked about Solomons’ security deal, both Chinese and PNG foreign ministers responded.
So, at last, a peaceful journalist was able to ask a question and get an answer from Mr. Wang.
At the end of the press conference, Wang called on the ABC to ask a question as well.
“The host country asked one question while China asked another,” he said in Mandarin.
“It seems that Australian journalists have always wanted to ask questions.”
When he was finished, he turned to his PNG counterpart and said, “If my friend agrees, we’ll give the Australian journalist a chance.”
The ABC asked Mr. Wang about his inability to get the 10 Pacific nations to sign the proposed regional agreement and whether he considered his trip a success.
Following the joint press conference, when the PNG media interviewed Mr Marape, the Chinese media conducted a separate interview in which Wang commented on the relationship between Australia and China.
In Timor-Leste, journalists protested the ban on asking questions to the Foreign Minister before the press conference, and Wang agreed to speak to reporters.
Talks on the China-Pacific regional pact can be resumed
PNG Foreign Minister Soroi Eoe meets with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (ABC News: Nat Whiting)
When confronted with a question about the Solomon Islands security pact, PNG Foreign Minister Soroi Eoe said his discussions had not “touched on things of this nature”.
He said the deal was “between the Solomon Islands and China.”
Wang said the Solomon Islands had called for security cooperation and that the agreement complied with international law.
“China has never imposed anything on others,” he said.
“As for some media reports that China would sign regional security agreements with all countries, I want to tell you that this is misinformation.”
Wang said China could try to create its own regional platform. (AP / Xinhua)
On the issue of the broader 10-country agreement China had put forward, which included trade and security, Mr Eoe suggested it would be delayed.
“The Pacific Island countries with which China has bilateral agreements have decided to postpone this discussion until next year,” he said.
Eoe said it was a collective decision made with China to allow the matter to be properly discussed.
There had been suggestions that the deal could happen before the Pacific Islands Forum, which includes four nations recognizing Taiwan instead of China, along with Australia and New Zealand.
Wang said that while China’s cooperation in the region is based on bilateral relations, they can establish a separate regional platform.
“In line with the wishes of the 10 island countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, we are also ready to build a subregional cooperation platform to conduct a collective dialogue, improve our consensus, coordinate our cooperation and form a greater synergy “.
Frustration with geopolitics among Pacific nations
Loading
Geopolitics, the battle for influence and security tensions have been at the center of discussions on the trip, which has been a point of frustration for many Pacific leaders who would rather focus on internal development issues and the climate change.
Marape said he wanted both China and Australia to focus on building trade links with PNG and improving the country’s economy.
“Papua New Guinea’s fundamental foreign policy has always been: friends of all and enemies of no one,” he said.
“The latest contemporary debate between East and West is really a no-brainer for Papua New Guinea. We are an equal playing field for everyone.”
Before the visit of Mr. Wang, the ABC was reliably informed that the Chinese delegation would donate 2,000 helmets and body armor sets, but that did not happen.
“There was no discussion at my meeting [with Wang Yi]if it has happened and possibly happened elsewhere, “Marape said.
Marape said PNG would take full responsibility for security matters and would not accept any grants or donations, including from Australia and China.
Australia offers broad support to the PNG police and army, most recently a donation of 100 cameras to the Australian Federal Police Force.
Posted 49 minutes ago 49 minutes ago, Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 6:26 AM, updated 6 minutes ago, 6 minutes ago, Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 7:09 AM