China threatens ‘irreparable damage’ to Australia relationship over Taiwan support

A brutal threat has emerged in Chinese propaganda, warning its relationship with Australia will “suffer irreparable damages” after a visit from Tony Abbott.

It has only been a matter of days since former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott flew in Taiwan, but it has not taken long his visit to trigger an irate response from China.

The Communist Party’s propaganda mouthpiece has fired off overnight in a brutal editorial that warns its relationship with Australia will “suffer irreparable damages” if it takes a couple of seemingly minor steps in the region.

The former Aussie Prime Minister landed in Taiwan on Tuesday after a weekend in which China flew a record number of fighter jets over the island’s airspace.

He has been vocal in his support of Taiwan remaining a democratically run island in the face of what he calls China’s “challenges”. He is not visiting Taiwan in any official capacity.

However, China’s state-run media outlet The Global Times has reacted with fury to the visit and what it sees as an increasingly hostile attitude from Canberra over the issue of Taiwan.

It warned Australia risked becoming a “chess piece” in the United States’ “anti-China strategy”.

Tony Abbott’s visit has angered China.

“Many are worried that Australia might imprudently follow the lead of some European countries to take injudicious actions,” its editorial read.

“After all, Abbott is not visiting Taipei in an official capacity.

“But should a member of the Australian parliament or even an incumbent cabinet minister visit Taiwan in an official capacity, or should Canberra allow the change of the name of ‘Taipei Economic and Cultural Office’ into something that violates the one-China principle, the bilateral relations between China and Australia would suffer irreparable damages.”

It also expressed anger over Australia’s reaction to its airspace activities over the weekend.

“The Australian government interfered in China’s internal affairs by slandering the mainland’s air force activities around the island of Taiwan as ‘incursions’ into the so-called air defence zone of the island, remaining in lock-step with Washington,” the editorial read.

Mr Abbott met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen at her office in Taipei on Thursday and praised Taiwan’s success at controlling the Covid-19 pandemic without the help of global bodies such as the World Health Organisation.

Its membership was blocked by China as it views Taiwan as one of its provinces, not a country.

“It is in large measure to try to help to end this isolation from which Taiwan has been suffering for so many decades that I am here in this country and I do hope that this will be the first of many visits,” Mr Abbott said.

Tony Abbott with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei on Thursday.

He said Taiwan shows others in the region it is possible to be both rich and free, and democracies should stand together.

“Of course not everyone and not everywhere is pleased at Taiwan’s progress, and I do note that Taiwan is challenged on an almost daily basis by its giant neighbour,” he said.

Australia, like many nations, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but has joined its ally the United States in expressing concern at Chinese pressure, especially militarily.

Abbott’s visit comes after China carried out four days of mass air force incursions into Taiwan’s air defence zone beginning last Friday.

Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend itself if China attacks.

Tension has been building over Taiwan for many years, but yesterday they were further stoked when Taiwan urged Beijing to stop “irresponsible provocative actions” after 56 Chinese warplanes crossed into its air defence zone in yet another record incursion.

The US State Department issued a statement accusing China of carrying out “provocative military activities” that “undermines regional peace and stability”, adding “the US commitment to Taiwan is rock solid.”

However, China has hit back in its scathing Global Times piece saying its display was a “severe warning” to the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island.

Tension has been building over Taiwan. Picture: Sam Yeh / AFP

“The strategic collusion between the US and Japan and the DPP authorities is becoming more audacious, and the situation across the Taiwan Straits has almost lost any room for manoeuvre teetering on the edge of a face-off, creating a sense of urgency that the war may be triggered at any time,” it said.

“The secessionist forces on the island will never be allowed to secede Taiwan from China under whatever names or by whatever means, and, the island will not be allowed to act as an outpost of the US’ strategic containment against China.”

The paper claimed that the “new mainstream public opinion on the Chinese mainland” is that China should make earnest preparations based on the possibility of combat.

“Now, we will like to warn the DPP authorities and their supporters: do not continue to play with fire. They should see that the Chinese mainland’s preparation to use force against Taiwan secessionist forces is much stronger than ever before,” it said.

“If the US and the DPP authorities do not take the initiative to reverse the current situation, the Chinese mainland’s military punishment for “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces will eventually be triggered. Time will prove that this warning is not just a verbal threat.”