Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says there s little Australia can do to exit the Chinese freezer of punitive trade measures, and should instead continue to prioritise the protection of its sovereignty.
But he also warned gratuitous belligerence towards Beijing was unhelpful, saying quiet diplomacy should win the day over slogans and media headlines.
Mr Turnbull on Monday appeared at the Lowy Institute to launch a book on China by journalist Peter Hartcher, the same day that Australia and New Zealand sought in bilateral talks to project unity on China.
Beijing has in the past 12 months launched a series of damaging trade strikes against Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wellington faces pressure from US, but shouldn’t sacrifice its interests: analysts
Wang Cong and Fan Anqi Published: May 25, 2021 10:23 PM
A man walks along a wharf in Wellington, capital of New Zealand, on September 22, 2020. Photo: Xinhua
China s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday praised China-New Zealand bilateral relations based on mutual respect and interests and urged the country to shrug off external disruptions to jointly advance the relationship and expand areas of cooperation, after the New Zealand Foreign Minister reportedly warned of a potential storm in trade cooperation.
The remarks from New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Monday showed increasingly common anxiety among some small countries as the US continues to push for an ideology-based confrontation with China and reflected the mounting pressure and difficulties posed by the US-led clique for Wellington to pursue a balanced approach between major powers, Chinese analysts said.
James Laurenceson
Minister for Women Marise Payne.
After Australia’s foreign minister Marise Payne cancelled the Victorian state government’s memorandum of understanding to participate in China’s “Belt and Road” global infrastructure initiative a fortnight ago, she said she didn’t expect retaliation from Beijing.
That was always a hopeful message for a domestic audience.
Last week the Chinese government “indefinitely suspended all activities” with Australia under a framework called the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue. China’s foreign ministry also warned Australia “not to walk further on the wrong path”.
The Chinese embassy had warned Payne’s “unreasonable and provocative” decision was “bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations”. It was right.