China-Australia relations: still ‘a lot to be done’ to reset ties, Beijing’s envoy says, urging caution on Taiwan
- China’s ambassador to Australia said ‘we have not yet come to the stage to discuss about how to solve’ the two sides’ political and trade issues
- He said Australia should be cautious on the Taiwan issue and not misinterpret the one-China policy – and did not rule out the use of force
Speaking to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, China’s ambassador, Xiao Qian, also said there had been no meeting between leaders from the two trading partners in recent years because Beijing believed a face-to-face meeting could worsen strained ties.
“It’s because we did not believe the meeting would help to improve the relationship and we were concerned the meeting could perhaps make things even more deteriorated,” he said.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner and the biggest customer for its iron ore.
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Despite some contact between ministers, “we have not yet come to the stage to discuss about how to solve those specific issues, political issues, trade issues”, Xiao said on Wednesday.
He said it was “a good start only and there is a lot to be done to really reset this relationship”.
On the question of Taiwan, there is no room for compromise
Xiao said Australia should be cautious on the issue and not misinterpret the one-China policy.
“On the question of Taiwan, there is no room for compromise,” he said. “We hope that the Australian side could take China-Australia relations with serious attitude. Take the one-China principle seriously, handle the Taiwan question with caution.”
Xiao would not say when the live-fire military exercises near Taiwan might end. He said an announcement would be made at a “proper time”.
China wanted a peaceful reunification with Taiwan, which Beijing considers a self-governing province, but Xiao did not rule out use of force.
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“We can never rule out the option to use other means. So when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means,” he said. “As to what does it mean by ‘all necessary means?’ You can use your imagination.”
Asked about comments by China’s ambassador to France that people in Taiwan would need to be “re-educated”, Xiao declined to use the term, and said people in Taiwan had a different perspective about the motherland.
“I think my personal understanding is that once … Taiwan is united, comes back to the motherland, there might be process for the people of Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin this week said Australia had “wantonly criticised China’s legitimate, justified and lawful measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Wang urged Australia to “stop interfering in China’s internal affairs.”
“In the past few years, China-Australia relations have experienced serious difficulties for reasons caused by the Australian side,” Wang said.
“As ambassador, I’m hoping for the best and I’m going to try to make all my efforts toward that direction,” he said.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who is filling in while Albanese is on holiday this week, was undeterred by the hostile Chinese reaction to Australia’s criticisms of the military response to Pelosi’s visit.
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“China is going to say what China says. We control our end of this equation. And in describing that end, it’s this: We will engage with the world with respect, with professionalism, with sobriety, with a faith in diplomacy,” Marles said on Wednesday.
“And we will continue to do that. While the government has changed, our national interest hasn’t. We will also speak to our national interest and we will speak to it with vigour,” Marles added.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
