Opinion | Australia’s move to scrap BRI deal – for Chinese netizens, it’s Canberra who is ‘out of line’

Name: Belt and Road Initiative explained
Uploaded: 2021-04-22T21:00:19.000Z
Duration: 2 min 35 s
Description: Belt and Road Initiative explained

Australia revoked two accords signed by Victoria state to join the Belt and Road Initiative because they were out of line with Canberra’s foreign policy

But for China, which adopted practices like respecting contracts, the move is seen as proof it will not get a fair deal, even if it plays by Western rules

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The Australian embassy in Beijing. Canberra said the decision to cancel Victoria’s BRI pact with China was necessary to prevent Australia from hosting a giant infrastructure scheme “used for propaganda”. Photo: AP

Maria Siow

Published: 5:00am, 23 Apr 2021Updated: 5:30am, 23 Apr 2021

One expression that has come up repeatedly among Chinese netizens in the aftermath of Australia ripping up the state of Victoria’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) agreement with China is that the decision “violated the spirit of a contract”.

Comments found on Chinese microblogging website Weibo ranged from the milder “what about the contract spirit often touted by the West” to harsher ones like “such perfidy” and “treachery can only be expected from descendants of convicted criminals”.

On Wednesday, Australia announced it would revoke two accords signed by Victoria to join the vast Chinese-led network of investments, saying they were out of line with Canberra’s foreign policy, which sees a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” as a key goal.

Beijing described the decision as “unreasonable and provocative”, adding it would further damage ties that have continued to deteriorate, with both governments at loggerheads over trade and competition for influence in the Asia-Pacific.

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Belt and Road Initiative explained

Australia’s Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the cancellation was necessary to prevent Australia from hosting a giant infrastructure scheme “used for propaganda”.