Penny Wong: Huge clue on Australia’s big China move

Penny Wong has given a major clue about when her next meeting with China could be and what she’ll bring to the table.

Penny Wong is “open to engaging” with her Chinese counterpart while in New York this week but has refused to back down from Australia’s position.

Following reports the Foreign Minister was likely to meet Wang Yi once again this week while in the US for the United Nations General Assembly, Senator Wong has confirmed that details of a tete-a-tete are being finalised.

It would mean the second foreign ministers’ meeting in 12 weeks following a near three-year stalemate.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is likely to meet her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi again this week following a meeting earlier this year in Bali. Picture: Johannes P. Christo / Pool / AFP

“If (those details are finalised) I’m sure that we will have a productive engagement,” Senator Wong said.

“What I would say (though) is that our position, whether in the meeting or outside of the meeting remains consistent in relation to Australia’s national interests.

“We have an interest in working with others to ensure strategic equilibrium. We want a region in which sovereignty is respected.

“We want a region which is not hegemonic.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles said if the meeting was to take place, it could be “seen in the context” of seeking to stabilise the relationship further.

“We are wanting to change the tone in the relationship. We feel there was a belligerence in the way in which the former government spoke about Australia’s place in the world, which did not help advance our national interest,” he told ABC Radio.

“We will always be vigorous in articulating Australia’s national interest, particular when that differs from the actions of other countries, including China, and we’ll be completely upfront with China.”

Senator Wong is in New York this week for the UN General Assembly. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

If the meeting were to go ahead, it would signal that Beijing was willing to have high-level contact with the Albanese government despite limited progress being made on fundamental disagreements – like Taiwan and trade – since Labor took office.

Senator Wong said Australia retained a consistent approach on Taiwan after US President Joe Biden affirmed forces would defend Taiwan should China make good on its threats to “invade”.

“We want to see peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We do not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo,” Senator Wong said.

“We want to see peace and stability.

“It’s in the interest of the region and of all countries to do what they can to ensure the status quo remains.”

Mr Marles said while Australia “can’t control China’s behaviours”, lead ministers wanted to engage in diplomacy and attempt to stabilise the relationship.

Mr Marles has also affirmed the need for long-range nuclear submarines, despite the expense, because of the state of global affairs.

“As our world becomes more complex, and the strategic circumstances that we face are more difficult, we need to be able to do everything we can to shape them to build our strategic space for trade and diplomacy,” he said.

“That’s at the heart of our prosperity, and making sure that we have a long-range capable submarine is going to be really important for that.”

Originally published as Penny Wong: Huge clue on Australia’s big China move