Paul Keating invited to meet China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on his visit to Australia

‘Unofficial’ meeting between Wang Yi and ‘voice of reason’ Paul Keating would be the most extraordinary intervention yet in his campaign against Australia’s foreign policy.

Former prime minister Paul Keating has been invited to meet with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short / Getty Images

An “unofficial” meeting between Xi Jinping’s top foreign policy ­adviser Wang Yi and Paul Keating could overshadow the Albanese government’s diplomatic agenda during the Chinese envoy’s high stakes visit to Australia this week.

The Australian can reveal Chinese officials have invited the former Labor prime minister to a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister this week in Sydney, a jarring addition to a trip that Beijing says is intended to send “positive signals” for the relationship. Mr Keating’s audience with Mr Wang, the most senior Chinese ­official to visit Australia in seven years, would be the most extraordinary intervention yet in the Labor legend’s public campaign against the Albanese government’s foreign policy.

The former prime minister’s ­increasingly brazen interventions have frustrated the government, but have been well received in Beijing where he has been praised by China’s Foreign Ministry for his “voice of reason”.

Mr Keating, Australia’s most influential AUKUS opponent, did not respond when contacted on Sunday about the meeting. China’s diplomats in Australia also did not respond.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who married her long-term partner on Saturday, and her department both declined to comment.

The Chinese government’s ­attempt to set up a meeting with Senator Wong’s loudest critic demonstrates Beijing’s ongoing efforts to chip away at Australia’s bipartisan support for the AUKUS pact and Canberra’s wider efforts to work with other capitals to stop China dominating the region.

If Mr Keating agrees to the Chinese request, the meeting would likely take place in Sydney on Thursday, the day after Mr Wang will hold the “China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue” in Canberra with Senator Wong. On Wednesday, Mr Wang will also meet Anthony Albanese.

It comes only a fortnight after Mr Keating stunned regional capitals by personally chiding Senator Wong, this time as she hosted leaders from Southeast Asia. Mr Keating released a public statement accusing Senator Wong of making “anti-China” comments and rattling “the China can” in a speech about maritime security in the region.

Mr Wang was scheduled to ­arrive in New Zealand late on Sunday. His visit to the two Tasman neighbours is the first by a Chinese foreign minister in seven years.

Wellington’s interest in joining the second pillar of AUKUS is expected to loom over his meetings on Monday with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Mr Wang’s diplomatic underlings in Wellington and Beijing have warned of consequences for New Zealand if it goes down the “dangerous path” of joining the non-nuclear second pillar of the security technology agreement.

The Luxon government ­expects the seasoned Chinese ­diplomat to continue that anti-AUKUS message. “He won’t say it explicitly, but it will be there,” said a source in Wellington.

During the breakdown of Australia’s relations with China, Beijing tried to create a wedge between Canberra and Wellington. At the peak of Beijing’s fury in mid-2021, China’s foreign ministry praised the Ardern government for its “mutual respect” while declaring the Morrison government “insane”.

Since coming to office in 2022, the Albanese government has worked closely with Wellington to co-ordinate approaches, particularly on the Pacific.

They have also been successful in getting endorsement from Wellington for Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine AUKUS plan, despite the New Zealand government’s nuclear free domestic stance.

New Zealand’s Prime Minister even recently backed Senator Wong after Mr Keating criticised her for alluding to China’s “destabilising, provocative and coercive actions” in the South China Sea in a speech at the ASEAN-Australia summit in Melbourne.

Mr Luxon, who was also at the summit, said it was an “excellent speech” that promoted peace and stability in the region.

“She’s right. If we can get all parties, where there’s tension, to actually follow the rules that keeps us all safe,” said Mr Luxon, who became PM in November.

Jason Young, director of Victoria University’s New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, said Wellington and Canberra were now “basically in the same boat” when it comes to “balancing the risks and opportunities of China”. “I think the only thing that really distinguishes us is that the security posture from Australia is clearer,” Professor Young told The Australian.

“New Zealand’s is similar, but there’s not a clarity of statement in the same way.”

While Beijing’s trans-Tasman wedge tactics have encountered increasing resistance, the Chinese government has had more success within the Australian Labor Party. Mr Keating has been routinely praised by China’s Foreign Ministry and Chinese state media for his sharp criticism of Australian foreign policy and America.

Weeks after the Albanese government was elected, Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, met with the former prime minister at his home in Potts Point, Sydney.

Paul Keating meets in mid-2022 with Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, at the former Prime Minister's home in Potts Point.

While Mr Wang’s schedule is being tightly guarded, The Australian can also reveal he will have a working lunch on Wednesday in Canberra with a group of about 10 senior China-focused Australian business figures and a clutch of think-tankers and academics. All invited guests declined to comment when contacted by The Australian on Sunday.

He will also meet with Mr Albanese, who is expected to formally invite Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Australia. That visit is being billed as a trip to mark the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Australia, during which the Chinese leader addressed the federal parliament, signed a free-trade agreement and upgraded the relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham has expressed an interest in meeting Mr Wang. Sources familiar with the discussions told The Australian that the Chinese embassy was still to confirm whether a meeting would take place.

The Chinese Foreign Minister visit will be conducted almost entirely behind closed doors, although Chinese state media may be allowed access for some portions. The Australian has been told an offer to hold a joint press conference with Senator Wong was declined. Much of Mr Wang’s visit will focus on creating a receptive environment for the Chinese Premier’s visit, which sources familiar with the plans have told The Australian is expected in June or July.

Beijing has signalled it will remove its crippling tariffs on Australian wine before the end of the month, which should see the industry’s China trade rebuild to around $400m-$500m a year.

Canberra continues to work on getting China to end its black-listing of Australian live lobster and just over half a dozen beef abattoirs, the final products on a trade sanctions list that once ran to $20bn a year.

Senator Wong will also press for leniency for Yang Hengjun, the Australian who was given a suspended death sentence in February. The “positive” part of the agenda for the foreign ministers’ meeting will include climate change co-operation and a focus on green energy transition.

It may also include the future of two giant pandas in the Adelaide Zoo, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, who are on loan from Beijing and are due to return to China. They were offered as a diplomatic gift by then president Hu Jintao on a visit in 2007 after advocacy by then foreign minister Alexander Downer. South Australia’s panda enthusiasts hope Senator Wong is able to either extend their stay or secure their replacements.