Beijing warns Albanese over ‘provocative behaviour’ of Australian MPs in Taiwan

Beijing says the ‘provocative behaviour’ of a delegation in the island nation could stall negotiations over China’s crippling wine tariff.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen meets in Taipei on Tuesday with an Australian parliamentary delegation led by Labor MP Josh Wilson and Liberal MP Paul Fletcher. Picture: Taiwan Presidential Office

Beijing has warned Anthony Albanese that the “provocative behaviour” of a bipartisan delegation of Australian politicians visiting Taiwan could stall negotiations over China’s crippling tariff on wine from Australia.

Communist Party mouthpiece the Global Times said the Australian delegation – which is being jointly led by Labor MP Josh Wilson and Liberal MP Paul Fletcher – risked upsetting a “critical juncture” in Australia-China relations ahead of Prime Minister Albanese’s planned trip to Beijing.

“The provocative behaviour of [the] Australian lawmakers is a test for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese,” the party-state masthead editorialised.

“By playing the Taiwan card, these MPs aim to create troubles in bilateral relations, seek international attention and gain political capital.”

The warning was issued hours after the group of eight Australian politicians met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen late on Tuesday, part of a series of meetings with senior economic, foreign ministry and security officials in Taipei during the four-day trip.

Canberra continues to be extremely cautious about its relations with Taiwan, which have been unofficial ever since Australia switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing in 1972.

However, there have been modest changes during the Albanese government. Canberra recently posted a “director of strategic affairs” to its unofficial embassy in Taipei to increase engagement with Taiwan’s defence ministry and other Taiwanese security agencies.

And, in a change from previous delegations of federal politicians, the present Australian delegation allowed Taiwanese officials to release photos of their meeting with President Tsai.

The new approach, which is standard among other similar countries with “One China” policies, was a departure from previous “invisible” Australian delegations and was welcomed by Taiwanese officials.

Pleased to meet with an Australian cross-party parliamentary delegation led by MPs @Josh4Freo and @PaulFletcherMP. I look forward to strengthening #Taiwan & #Australia's trade cooperation & working together toward regional peace & stability. pic.twitter.com/qEyizyJkXE

— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) September 26, 2023

“Australia values its deep and productive unofficial relationship with Taiwan, focused on trade and investment, cultural and people to people ties,” said a spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“There has been no change to Australia’s longstanding bipartisan one-China policy position.”

Taiwan is Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest export market, following booming trade in LNG, coal and iron ore.

Mr Wilson, the senior Labor representative on the trip, told President Tsai the trade relationship could grow further “in areas like the global clean energy transition, critical minerals, education, and tourism.”

The West Australian Labor MP, a member of the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security, acknowledged the worsening strategic environment.

“Madame President, there is no doubt that the people of Australia and Taiwan have a shared interest in a region that is peaceful, stable, environmentally sustainable, and prosperous – and together we support an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific based on respectful and collaborative participation in the rules-based order,” he said.

“Australia is committed to working with all our Indo-Pacific partners on that basis, because in our judgement it is both sensible and the right thing to do, and because it’s the only approach that will succeed in addressing challenges that must be shared, like climate change.”

President Tsai’s second term ends in 2024, ending an eight-year period in office that has overlapped with increasingly assertive behaviour by China’s People’s Liberation Army under Xi Jinping’s leadership.

She thanked Australia for repeatedly underlining the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and supporting Taiwan’s international participation.

She also asked for Canberra’s support for Taipei’s bid to join the CPTPP trade agreement, saying it would contribute to “economic growth and sustainable development throughout the Indo-Pacific region.”

I had the privilege of meeting Taiwan's President @iingwen. Taiwan is a world leader in digital technology and I welcomed the opportunity to discuss this among other issues of mutual interest. pic.twitter.com/0GRPwIuRgi

— Paul Fletcher (@PaulFletcherMP) September 27, 2023

Beijing is also pressing Canberra to support its own bid to join the CPTPP trade pact, even as it haggles over its ongoing black-listing of Australian wine and live lobster.

Qin Sheng, executive research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the Australian delegation could stall progress over the wine dispute.

“China is unlikely to discuss this issue with Australia against the backdrop of [the] Australian MPs’ Taiwan visit,“ Qin told the Global Times.

Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Centre of East China Normal University, said the Australian Prime Minister should discipline the visiting delegation, which includes five Labor members.

“If Albanese truly wants to mend ties with China, he should oppose, condemn and then rein in the rogue behavior of MPs visiting Taiwan,” Chen said.

Mr Albanese led an Australian parliamentary delegation to Taiwan in 2018.

The current delegation includes Labor MPs Graham Perrett, David Smith and Daniel Mulino, Labor senator Catryna Bilyk, along with Liberal senator Matt O’Sullivan and Liberal MP Claire Chandler, the Opposition’s assistant foreign affairs spokeswoman.