‘Game changer’: Beijing-Canberra relations would improve with stronger stance on Ukraine, opposition says

China’s muted response on Ukraine has been ‘shameful’, and taking a stronger stance could mark a shift with Canberra, the opposition says.

China taking a stronger stance on Russia’s prolonged war in Ukraine would be a “game changer” in Canberra’s relationship with Beijing, the opposition says.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s meeting with her Chinese counterpart last week marked a shift in the relationship between the two counties, but both sides of politics agree Australia needs to demand more from China.

Senator Wong said she had spoken “frankly” with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and it’s understood she raised China’s ties with Russia, alongside a host of other bilateral, regional, trade and consular issues during the round table.

Senator Wong has been adamant that it is in the “best interests” for both China and Australia for the relationship to be stabilised.

The opposition’s spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Simon Birmingham said while Australia should not compromise in its demands to get China to back down from its trade sanctions, stronger moves on Russia would be beneficial.

The opposition spokesperson for Foreign Affairs said China should take stronger action on Ukraine, which would benefit Beijing’s relationship with Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw

“China’s muted response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine … war on Ukraine, has been shameful to see,” Senator Birmingham told Sky News.

“We would wish to see China take a stronger response in that regard.

“The world would no doubt love to see in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine … is for China to show leadership, there’s an enormous opportunity for China to do so and one I’m sure everyone would encourage them to do.”

Senator Birmingham said China needed to remove its tariffs on Australian barley and wine, with the “ultimate test” to be whether any progress was actually achieved in winding back Beijing’s “unfair actions”.

“We have to engage in good faith always. It was not good faith for China to apply the types of trade sanctions (it has), which are clearly in breach of both the letter and intent of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement,” he said.

“We should expect those sorts of sanctions to be lifted.”