Category: australia-china

Australian Wine Exporters Break New Ground in Asia Despite Drop in China Trade

Despite experiencing a turbulent year in the global wine market, Australian exporters are making significant gains across Asia after being denied the China market by Beijing. In its latest figures, Wine Australia revealed that overall volumes were down 17 percent to 619 million litres resulting in a 30 percent decline in the value of exports…


Beijing Continues Coercion Campaign Banning Imports From 10th Australian Abattoir

Beijing has suspended imports from a tenth Australian meat abattoir, citing a recent COVID-19 outbreak that saw 140 individuals infected with the virus. The abattoir in Naracoorte in South Australia is run by meat processing giant Teys, who received notification of the suspension on Jan. 29 from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s…


Beijing’s 99-Year Lease of Darwin Port Poses No Security Risk: Australian Defence Department

A review by Australia’s Defence Department has advised the federal government against overturning the controversial 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin to Chinese company Landbridge, citing a lack of national security grounds. The review, initiated by Defence Minister Peter Dutton—amid escalating tensions between Beijing and Canberra—was tasked with investigating with whether the Chinese-owned port posed…


Solomon Islands Leader Survives No-Confidence Vote Amid Increasing Discontent

A no-confidence vote against Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has failed in the country’s Parliament amid increasing unrest and dissatisfaction with his tenure as the Pacific nation’s leader. On Dec. 6, Sogavare’s backers easily voted down the motion of no confidence, 32 to 15. However, the prime minister gave a scathing, 90-minute address against…


Opposition Foreign Minister Accuses Government of ‘Amping up War’

Australia’s Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong has accused the government of “amping up” the prospect of war with Beijing over Taiwan and politicising the country’s foreign policy. In remarks to the Australian National University on Nov. 23, Wong outlined the Australian Labor Party’s foreign policy initiatives and pointed out failings in the current government’s approach….


Defending Australian Values From Those Who Want to Tear It Down

Commentary There’s a joke that, unlike a tub of yogurt, Australia hasn’t developed any culture after 200 years in the sun. The truth is that Australia has a distinct culture. Those who make such jokes just don’t like it. It’s part of our national character as Australians to not take ourselves too seriously, but this…


Western Australia Leader to ‘Reconnect’ With Korea, Japan, China Once Border Restrictions Dropped

West Australian leader Mark McGowan has earmarked a “reconnection” tour of trading partners Korea, Japan, and China after the state’s international borders are eased next year. The pledge comes amid ongoing tensions in bilateral Australia-China ties and as Western Australia (WA) prepares to keep its tough border restrictions in place over the Christmas period. On…


China’s ‘Wolf Warrior’ Ambassador to Australia Heading Home

Beijing’s controversial “wolf-warrior” ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, has finished his post and will be returning to China. Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne told a Senate Estimates committee on Oct. 28 that Cheng, who had arrived in 2016, was “about to depart if he has not already departed.” The ambassador has been the public face…


Ninth Australian Abattoir Suspended from Exporting to China

A ninth Australian abattoir has had its license to export to China suspended. One of the country’s largest beef companies, Australian Country Choice (ACC), based in Brisbane, was notified by federal authorities that from Oct. 18, its trade to China had been blocked. Chinese authorities supposedly detected a chemical substance used to treat bacterial infections…


Australia Lays Bare Beijing’s Coercive Trade Policy at WTO

Australian diplomats have issued a strongly worded statement criticising Beijing’s use of economic coercion and warning that its behaviour could undermine the global trading system. Australia’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), George Mina, released the statement as part of the global body’s regular Trade Policy Review process. It said that while increased engagement…