Beijing and Canberra have agreed to enhance military ties, Chinese state media reported, lauding defence relations between them even as Australia strengthens cooperation with the United States and Japan.
The move follows President Xi Jinping’s visit to Australia last month, when both states agreed to raise their ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” and sealed a free-trade accord, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday.
Improving military relations illustrated “a new high of mutual political trust between our countries”, the agency quoted Central Military Commission vice-chairman Fan Changlong as saying. “Military ties forge an important part of bilateral ties,” he said.
Fan held talks with Mark Binskin, the head of Australia’s military, and defence secretary Dennis Richardson, who were in China for an annual strategic dialogue.
Military ties forge an important part of bilateral ties
Australia, a long-time defence ally of the US, has also stepped up military ties with Japan and has occasionally tussled with China despite their close trade relations.
In July, Australian foreign minister Julie Bishop was quoted as saying that “China doesn’t respect weakness” and that Canberra must “hope for the best and manage for the worst” in its relations with Beijing, prompting the ire of Chinese state media.