Scott Morrison hits back at China envoy over Taiwan comments

Scott Morrison has lashed China’s top diplomat in Australia, declaring the envoy has no right to tell Australian MPs they cannot travel to Taiwan.

Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian toasts the CCP’s anniversary. Picture: Nikki Short

Scott Morrison has lashed China’s top diplomat in Australia, declaring the envoy has no right to tell Australian MPs they cannot travel to Taiwan or decide how Australia applies its One China policy.

China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, warned Australian politicians on Thursday – including the former prime minister – that MPs’ visits to Taipei undermined progress in stabilising ties between the countries.

His comments, at a function in Sydney to mark 74 years of Communist Party rule over China, came just days after an Australian parliamentary delegation met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei.

“Their words, their actions on Taiwan will absolutely bring about a negative effect on the ongoing improvement of our relationship between China and Australia,” Mr Xiao said.

The ambassador expressed concern over Mr Morrison’s scheduled Taiwan trip in early October, declaring even former prime ministers wear “political hats”.

But Mr Morrison – whose government pushed back against surging Chinese coercion – said Australian MPs were free to travel where they chose.

“The Chinese government in Beijing does not get to decide whether Australian members of parliament can visit Taiwan or not, nor do they get to tell Australians or the world what Australia’s One China policy means,” he told The Australian.

“I’m very much looking forward to visiting Taiwan and ­celebrating their many achievements as a successful representative democracy that has built a highly sophisticated and remarkable market-based economy, which plays such an important role, both in our region and globally.”

Mr Xiao said Anthony Albanese’s upcoming visit to China would lay the foundations for the next 50 years of relations between the countries.

But he warned Australian politicians must “respect that there is a commitment by the Australian government to (the) One China policy, and they need to respect the sentiments and the feelings of 1.4 billion Chinese people”.

Beijing claims Australia’s One China policy means Canberra accepts Taiwan is part of the People’s Republic of China.

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

But Australia’s deliberately ambiguous One China policy only “acknowledges” the PRC claim to Taiwan, and calls for the two sides to resolve their dispute peacefully.

While Australian wine exports are still banned by China, Mr Xiao was upbeat over the warming trade ties between the countries, with Australian coal, cotton, barley and timber now flowing into the Chinese market.

But he warned of the need for “flexibility”, saying China remained concerned over its market access into Australia for wind turbines, railway wheels and stainless steel sheets.

“We need to respect each other, and we need to show flexibility, and show that we have the spirit. I think there will be a way to find a solution to these remaining issues,” he said.

In Taiwan on Thursday, government officials revealed the delegation of eight Australian MPs led by Labor’s Josh Wilson and Liberal Paul Fletcher had allowed Taipei to publicise the trip.

Previously, Australia had been an outlier among wealthy liberal democracies, insisting Taipei not disclose details of visits by sitting Australian politicians and prevent the release of photos of federal MPs meeting with Taiwan’s leaders.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Thursday welcomed what he said was a positive development in Australian policy.

“I think this is a natural ­evolution of Australian policy or parliamentary policy for their interactions with Taiwan,” Mr Wu told The Australian in Taipei.

“This kind of more openness in their interaction with Taiwan is highly welcome. We are natural partners even though Australia is very far away, but the two countries share the basic values of freedom, democracy and protection of human rights.

“And the two countries are also major trading partners to each other. Australia is also a major investor here in Taiwan … It is necessary for the two sides to work closer with each other across all spectrums of relations. And we will continue to do that. Australia is a very important friend of Taiwan.”

Liberal senator Claire Chandler, part of the delegation, said she hoped the more open approach was maintained on subsequent trips.

“It’s only appropriate that these parliamentary delegations are conducted openly and transparently, and I welcome Foreign Minister Wu’s warm reception of our delegation in Taipei,” Senator Chandler said.

In his prepared address in Sydney, Mr Xiao sought to allay fears of a slowing Chinese economy, saying despite “very challenging” times, Beijing remained confident in the country’s economic trajectory.

Invoking Gough Whitlam’s historic visit to Beijing in 1973, Mr Xiao said Mr Albanese’s visit to Beijing later this year would be “another historically significant visit”.

“We’re working very closely through diplomatic channels to discuss … the details of the visit,” he said. “(It) will lay down a solid foundation for the next 50 years of a friendly and good relationship with China and ­Australia.”

He also called for “more independent Australian foreign policy”, in a swipe at the Australia-US alliance.

“I hope that the Australian side will be more independent in making their decisions, because the relationship between China and Australia is in the interest of Australia (and) in the interest of Australian people.”

Additional reporting: Noah Yim