China-Australia relations: Beijing blames Canberra for trade spat, citing grievances from Huawei to Taiwan
- Beijing has dismissed Australia’s claim that the ‘ball is in its court’ to salvage relations between the two countries
- China’s foreign ministry claims Canberra’s stance on issues ranging from Xinjiang to 5G networks is to blame for dispute
China has rejected Australia’s claim that the “ball is in its court” regarding resolution of their escalating trade dispute, providing a long list of alleged offences that have “greatly hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”.
At a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China bears “no responsibility” for the collapse in bilateral ties, which has resulted in a series of Australian exports to China being hit with trade restrictions.
He said lobbying for Taiwan to be admitted to the World Health Organization and banning Chinese companies from Australia’s 5G telecommunications network had also soured the relationship.
Australia’s “arbitrary searches” of Chinese media reporters and accusations of Chinese “intervention and infiltration” in domestic affairs had further politicised bilateral ties, Zhao added, accusing Canberra of “clinging to cold war mentality and ideological prejudice”.
