Election 2022: Mark McGowan calls for new diplomatic approach on China
Australia can adopt a more ‘sensible’ and diplomatic relationship with China without compromising on its own national interests, WA Premier Mark McGowan says.
Australia can adopt a more “sensible” and diplomatic relationship with China without compromising on its own national interests, WA Premier Mark McGowan says.
Mr McGowan, whose state is more dependent than any other on trade with China, has long called for more conciliatory relations between Australia and China and said on Wednesday that he believed Australia would plot a more sensible course going forward.
“My view is, and I think this is what will come to pass, is we will do what is appropriate to protect our national interests, we will protect our defence interests, we will work cooperatively with Pacific nations as we have for 200 years, but we will become more diplomatic and more sensible in relation to our dealings with China,” he said.
Chinese premier Li Keqiang, China’s second most senior political leader, has sent a letter of congratulations to new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in what could be seen as a thawing of the tension between China and Australia. Beijing had banned all ministerial contact with the Morrison government in late January 2020 and has since imposed trade tariffs on a range of Australian exports including barley, lobster, wine and coal.
Mr Albanese has so far struck a measured tone in his commentary around China, welcoming the letter but urging China to lift the trade tariffs it introduced against Australian industries in recent years. China is the dominant market for WA’s two key exports, iron ore and gas. Iron ore royalties alone are currently generating more than $10bn a year in state royalties, while WA currently accounts for around half of the nation’s total exports.