Category: China-Australia Relations

Beijing ‘Discontent’ Over ‘Finger-Pointing’ about Taiwan

Beijing said it was “discontent” with Australia, Japan, and the United States for their condemnation of the launching of military ballistic missiles into the waters around Taiwan, calling it “finger-pointing” and “absolutely unacceptable.” In a joint statement, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, and the U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken…


Vanuatu takes Pro-China Stance Calling Taiwan an ‘Inalienable Part of China’

The government of Pacific nation Vanuatu has thrown its support behind the One China policy following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The overt declaration comes amid ongoing concerns of Beijing’s strong influence in the South Pacific and the threat of conflict around the Taiwan Strait. On Aug. 5, Silas Bule, the acting…


Vanuatu Takes Pro-Beijing Stance Calling Taiwan an ‘Inalienable Part of China’

The government of Pacific nation Vanuatu has thrown its support behind the One China policy following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The overt declaration comes amid ongoing concerns of Beijing’s strong influence in the South Pacific and the threat of conflict around the Taiwan Strait. On Aug. 5, Silas Bule, the acting…


Australia Has Failed to Recognise China’s ‘Fundamentally Different Vision for the World’: Shadow Defence Minister

Australia’s shadow defence minister has called on the West to “see China with clear eyes” as he warned Australia’s “greatest vulnerability” is its failure to recognise the communist regime’s “fundamentally different vision for the world.”  Andrew Hastie on Sunday said that Australia is in an “immensely difficult” position where it can neither forsake its closest…


Australian Greens Party Challenges Ruling Labor Party Amidst National Security Power Play

The Australian Greens Party has put the centre-left Australian Labor government on notice, with leader Adam Bandt announcing his party’s intention to push the federal government on all issues it deems important. Speaking at the National Press Club on Aug. 3, Bandt said the Greens were now in a place of power in the Parliament…


Australia Urges ‘Restraint’ Amid China’s ‘Destablizing’ Military Drills Near Taiwan

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Aug. 5 called out the China for its “destabilizing” live-fire drills near Taiwan, noting that Australia will monitor the situation closely. “Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwan’s coastline,” Wong said in a statement. “These exercises are disproportionate and destabilizing.” The…


Australia Orders Review of Defence Force to Speed up ‘Military Modernisation’

The Australian Labor government is launching its promised review of the defence force to deal with the “nation’s security challenges over the next decade and beyond,” according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The latest review will be carried out by the former Labor Defence Minister Stephen Smith and former Chief of the Defence Force Angus…


Australian Foreign Minister Calls for Calm as Beijing Raises Stakes Over Pelosi Visit

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for calm as tensions rise following the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. Speaking to Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Wednesday, Wong called on all nations involved in the Asia-Pacific to push for stability. “I think it’s really important that we all continue to calmly assert…


Beijing Accuses AUKUS of Undermining Regional Peace, Calls for Oversight From UN Nuclear Watchdog

Beijing has warned the three AUKUS nations of undermining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific if efforts to arm Australia with nuclear-powered submarines continue. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in a press briefing on July 29 that Beijing opposed cooperation between the three governments and that it allegedly “sparked serious…


Solomons PM Forces National Broadcaster to Censor Content That ‘Creates Disunity’

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has ordered the national broadcaster of the Solomon Islands to cease broadcasting content critical of his government. The move crystallises ongoing warnings that corrupt Pacific leaders will—with the backing of Beijing—steadily erode their country’s democratic institutions in a bid to stay in power. According to the Island Sun newspaper, the acting…