The China-Australia Relationship Is Still Close to the Rocks
Australia’s government has cooled things down with Beijing—at least, for now. But while the relationship may be less heated, beneath the surface it is no less contentious.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese—ably assisted by his foreign minister, Penny Wong, and defense minister, Richard Marles—should be applauded for lowering the temperature between both countries.
China turned fiercely against Australia after a call for investigation into COVID-19’s origins in April 2020 by then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The relationship reached its nadir later that year, when the now infamous list of “14 Chinese Grievances”—which included Australia’s banning of Huawei from its 5G network, restrictions on Chinese ownership in critical Australian infrastructure, foreign interference laws, and Australia’s ongoing support of a free press—was posted by the Chinese Embassy in Canberra as the rationale for a sweeping series of sanctions on Australian exports.… Seguir leyendo »