Australia ‘won’t respond’ to China’s demands, says Anthony Albanese

Beijing and Canberra have ended a two-year diplomatic freeze, but to better improve relations Australia must do four things.

Australia “won’t respond” to a list of demands from China, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, as Canberra seeks to set a new path for diplomatic relations with Beijing.

As a two-year diplomatic freeze thaws, China has demanded Australia take strident steps to improve the relationship which Beijing has blamed the former government for.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of a G20 meeting in Bali last week, where she said she had a “full and frank” discussion with Wang Yi.

It was the first time the Foreign Ministers had met face-to-face since 2019, after tensions soured in 2020 after former prime minister Scott Morrison called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response, China slapped bans and tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Australian exports, namely wine and barley.

Senator Wong said the meeting had been an “important first step” to “stabilise” the relationship.

While China recognised it was a step in the right direction, it has called on Australia to meet four criteria in order to better heal the relationship, including that Canberra needed to see Beijing as a “partner, rather than a rival”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, China Foreign Minister last week, ending a two year ministerial freeze. Picture: Johannes P. Christo

In a statement, Mr Yi said China had four demands for Australia to improve relations between the two countries, including limiting third party influence, namely at the hands of the US in the realm of the Pacific.

“First, stick to regarding China as a partner rather than a rival. Second, stick to the way we get along with each other, which features seeking common ground while reserving differences,” the statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

“Third, stick to not targeting any third party or being controlled by any third party. Fourth, stick to building positive and pragmatic social foundations and public support.”

Mr Yi said his government appreciated the new Albanese government had “reaffirmed its commitment” to the strategic partnership between the two countries and its adherence to the one-China policy.

“China hopes that Australia will seize the current opportunity, take concrete actions, reshape a correct perception of Australia, and reduce negative assets and accumulate positive energy for improving China-Australia relations,” the readout said.

Mr Albanese said Australia “doesn’t respond to demands”.

“We respond to our own national interest,” Mr Albanese said.

“We will cooperate with China where we can. I want to build good relations with all countries, but we will stand up for Australia’s interests when we must.”

Mr Albanese said Senator Wong’s meeting with Mr Yi had been a “constructive step forward”.

“Australia has not changed our position on any issues. We’ll continue to be constructive,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia ‘doesn’t respond to demands’. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

Earlier, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said Australia welcomed increasing dialogue with China, the government would continue to make the point that “Australia hasn’t changed”.

“Dialogue is really important, and we’ve got a number of issues that we’re working to resolve there,” Mr Conroy told ABC Radio.

“Our national interests haven’t changed … but we are committed to that dialogue.”

Mr Conroy said there was a desire from the Albanese government to improve relations with China but stressed Canberra would not bend to pressure.

“The attitude of the new Australian government is essentially the same as the last Australian government on the issue of China and their increasing assertiveness in the region,” he said.

China says to improve relations between Beijing and Canberra, Australia needed to do ‘four things’. Picture: Johannes P. Christo

Mr Yi said the two sides had spoken about their relations with Pacific Island countries, after Beijing signed a historic security deal with the Solomon Islands.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Mr Conroy and Senator Wong will all head to Fiji this week for the Pacific Island Forum, where China and climate change will be top of the agenda.

Mr Conroy said the central architecture of the Pacific needed strengthening.

“There is a strong desire for everything to go through a regional approach, to approach the Pacific Island Forum rather than go to individual countries trying to seek agreement on these issues,” Mr Conroy said.

“I think that’s really important, that we respect and renew the central architecture of the Pacific (PIF). It’s natural that China is interested – the United States, France, United Kingdom, India are all increasing their interests in the Pacific.

“But the key message I’m hearing is the one I’m supporting, is that security has to come from within the Pacific first before engaging outside.”

Amid reports the Solomon Islands has blocked Australian aid workers from entering the country, while granting entry to Chinese advisers, Mr Conroy said the issue was simply a visa hold up.

“My advice is that this has occurred in the past and that no visas have been blocked. There’s just a delay,” Mr Conroy said.

“But there are many Australian aid workers in the Solomon Islands right now, and many visas have been processed over the last few months.”

Originally published as Australia ‘won’t respond’ to China’s demands, says Anthony Albanese