The Australia-China relationship is at its lowest point since diplomatic relations began 46 years ago. This is something the Australian government doesn’t wish to discuss. Its diplomats are paid to put a positive spin on things. Elements of the conservative populist media almost rejoice in this state of affairs.

These days official contact at the national level has effectively been frozen. This is what China does to show its displeasure. The last bilateral visit was when the Chinese visited Australia early in 2017.