Australian PM Albanese says trip by MPs to Taiwan ‘not a government visit’

A group of ruling party and opposition lawmakers will on Sunday fly to Taipei to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and discuss issues including security and trade

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he has ‘no idea’ when asked about the politicians’ intentions as he is not part of the delegation

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:08am, 3 Dec 2022Updated: 1:09pm, 3 Dec 2022

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday he would not be part of a group of federal politicians set to travel to Taiwan for a reported five-day visit aimed at conveying Australia’s wish to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific.

The group, which includes governing Labor Party and opposition Liberal-National coalition MPs, will fly to Taiwan on Sunday and is the first delegation of its type to visit there since 2019, The Australian newspaper reported on Saturday.

Albanese on Saturday described the trip as a “backbench” visit to Taiwan, not a government-led one.

“There remains a bipartisan position when it comes to China and when it comes to support for the status quo on Taiwan,” Albanese told reporters in the town of Renmark, in South Australia state.

Asked about the travelling politicians’ intentions, Albanese said: “I have no idea, I’m not going, you should ask them.”

The group includes former leader of the National Party Barnaby Joyce, a spokesperson for Joyce confirmed to Reuters on Saturday. Two Labor MPs are also said to be going.