Beijing remains frustrated by Australian anti-dumping measures, the blocking of Chinese investment in insensitive industries, the destruction of the Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement and the cancellation of visas for Chinese academics for reasons of national security.
But Beijing is also under economic pressure due to ongoing restrictions on Australian coal that drive up energy and steel prices, while not being able to avoid dependence on Australian iron ore.
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China Daily said Wednesday that “although Australia has not gotten off the US anti-China chariot, it is no longer riding a shotgun” and that it was no longer a “US footman.”
In fact, Australia’s position on the role of the United States in the Indo-Pacific remains unchanged and Labor has reaffirmed its commitment to the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement which was only described last month by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘China’s Foreign Affairs as’ undermining regional peace and stability’.
Wong said Thursday he would continue to pressure Pacific Island nations not to reach security partnerships with China after Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said he would like to see a permanent Chinese police presence in Honiara. . Wong is scheduled to meet with Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama on Thursday to convey Australia’s concerns.
“We have a very strong view that Pacific security should be the responsibility of the Pacific family and that will be the approach that Australia will take at both the Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ meeting tomorrow and the Pacific Islands meeting. Pacific Island leaders next week, ”he said.
Wong also criticized Beijing’s continued support for Russia and its failure to publicly pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
“As a great power, as a world leader and as a permanent member of the Security Council, China has a special responsibility to uphold the Charter of the United Nations and international law,” he said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Bali on Wednesday to take up his post at the G20. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Wednesday that he will travel to the G20 leader’s summit in Bali in November for his first world meeting since the invasion of Ukraine.
Wong said G20 foreign ministers will face Lavrov. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba is scheduled to address the meeting with Lavrov in the room.
“We will make our views on Russia’s position and Russia’s behavior very clear collectively,” he said.
Russia’s ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, said the relationship between Australia and Russia had been destroyed.
“Australia sees Russia as an enemy,” he told ABC Radio National on Thursday.
“[Russia] he sees the situation with great sadness. I wish I could say something positive. But Russian-Australian relations have probably reached their lowest point in decades. So I think any cooperation we have has been destroyed by the Australian side without thinking much about what the Australian interests are. “
Wong said he would tell the G20 that Russia’s actions were “illegal, unfair and immoral.”
“If you have ever wanted an example of a nation that has chosen to denigrate and weaken multilateralism, [it is Russia]”If you ever want an example of a nation that has demonstrated its willingness to ignore the need for food security for a world recovering from a pandemic, it is Russia.”
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