China cold on Australian official visits
MALCOLM Turnbull says Australia’s foreign interference legislation has been ‘mischaracterised’ by the Chinese media, but rejected reports Beijing is denying visas to government ministers.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
CHINA has gone cold on Malcolm Turnbull’s government over recent anti-China rhetoric, reportedly refusing to grant visas to senior ministers.
Prime Minister Turnbull this morning admitted there was “some tension” in the Australia-China relationship after his government introduced laws to crackdown on foreign interference and espionage.
But he refused to outright say his ministers were having problems gaining visas to enter China.
“I wouldn’t say they’ve been declined,” he told Melbourne radio 3AW in an interview where he appeared to select his words very carefully.
EARLIER: China reportedly planning military base on Vanuatu
“I want to be precise about this — I would say there is certainly some tension,” he said.
His comments come after Fairfax Media reported Beijing was refusing to grant Turnbull Government ministers visas and was also planning to abandon a major Australian trade and business showcase in China in May this year.
“All I would say is there has clearly been some misunderstandings and mischaracterisations of our foreign interference legislation in some of the Chinese media,” Mr Turnbull said.
He said Australia had a “very strong and respectful relationship with China” and that he was confident any misunderstandings would be resolved.
“I want to say we have a very good relationship with China. I regularly correspond with Chinese leaders, both the Premier Li Keqiang and the President Xi Jinping,” he said.
“The relationship is very deep and extensive but from time to time there are differences of perception.”
Mr Turnbull doubled down on the need for Australia’s foreign interference laws, saying: “It is very important that the Australian government ensures that only Australians are influencing our political processes and where foreigners seek to influence they do so openly and transparently.”
There have been several flare ups in Australia-China relations in recent months, including the furore over former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari’s ties with a Chinese businessman.
International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells also accused the Asian superpower in January of lending funds to Pacific island nations on unfavourable terms and constructing “useless buildings”, “white elephants” and “roads to nowhere”.
Australian sources have told Fairfax Media Prime Minister Turnbull still plans to attend the Australia Week in China showcase mid-year but no date has yet been set for the event.
Potential participants in China have reportedly said they do not expect it to proceed.
Senior government ministers were also notably absent from the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan this week, which Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at on Tuesday.
Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest has previously been able to invite an Australian minister. He refused to confirm or deny to Fairfax Media that FMG had been unable to obtain a visa for an Australian politician this year.
The Australian ambassador to China, Jan Adams, has attended the Boao forum however.
Sports Minister Bridget McKenzie is also understood to have been affected by the freeze.
She had reportedly been invited to attend an AFL showcase match in Shanghai on May 19 but is now not expected to attend.
Australia’s top diplomat, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Frances Adamson, has acknowledged that there are “complex and difficult issues” between Australia and China at the moment.
But she told an estimates hearing at Parliament House in March that it was wrong to suggest China was deliberately putting diplomatic visits on hold.
“We are certainly going through a period where there are some complex and difficult issues but we are working through those,” Ms Adamson said.