Albanese lost in translation as he heads to Beijing
The prime minister is sending a confused message on Australia’s relationship with the US. The contradictions will be even sharper in his visit to China this weekend.
Timing and imagery matter in politics. It may be a coincidence that Anthony Albanese’s visit to Beijing this weekend is uncomfortably close to yet another supposed Trump deadline for tariff and trade deals this week.
But the willingness of this US president to trample on the diplomatic sensitivities of close allies doesn’t give an Australian prime minister the same leeway. Not when the power, economic and security balance is so unequal.
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Jennifer Hewett is the national affairs columnist. She writes a daily column on politics, business and the economy. Connect with Jennifer on Twitter. Email Jennifer at jennifer.hewett@afr.com
