Thousand Talents ‘spreads sunshine’ on China ties, Deputy ambassador Wang Xining claims

Beijing’s deputy ambassador delivers an astonishing speech in which he says Australia has been treacherous and disrespectful.

Wang Xining at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Picture: Gary Ramage

The worsening relationship ­between China and Australia is like a bad marriage where one partner is almost entirely to blame, according to Beijing’s deputy ­ambassador in Canberra, who ­delivered an ­astonishing speech on Wednesday in which he ­accused Australia of treachery and disrespect.

Wang Xining said Australia had betrayed China by calling for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, comparing the disloyalty to a Shakespearean tragedy while rejecting claims his own country had interfered in Australian society.

He also gave a colourful ­defence of Beijing’s growing presence in Australian life — he suggested that China had no interest in changing the menu at burger chain Hungry Jack’s to include Chinese dumplings — and he dismissed questions about his country’s Thousand Talents plan.

In a provocative address to the National Press Club, Mr Wang said Australia had deeply offended China in relation to COVID-19.

He said Australia did not consult China before calling for the inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, despite the comprehensive strategic partnership between the countries.

“It hurt the feelings of the Chinese people,” Mr Wang said. “I think it is approximately identical to Julius Caesar on his final day, when he saw Brutus approaching him, (and said): ‘Et tu Brute.’ ”

Mr Wang said China’s system of government had outperformed Western democracies in dealing with the coronavirus, as he insisted “shadows” over the bilateral relationship were Australia’s fault.

Amid growing tensions between Australia and its biggest trading partner, Mr Wang compared the union to a bad marriage.

“It is no easy task to keep a relationship in good shape. Married couples know how hard it is,” he said.

But Mr Wang said Australia was responsible for the worsening relationship between the countries, declaring China respected Australia and “naturally, China expects reciprocity”.

“China does not interfere in Australia’s internal affairs, nor do we have any intention to change Australia’s political and social culture,” he said. “We are not trying to replace your prime minister with a presidential system.

“We are not asking Hungry Jack’s to sell Chinese dumplings.”

Asked about the security threats posed by Beijing’s ­Thousand Talents plan, which involves recruitment of foreign scientists to work secretly for China, he said those who joined the ­program simply wanted to “spread sunshine” on the bilateral relationship.

The Australian has identified dozens of academics who have been recruited to the Thousand Talents plan and similar Chinese talent programs, which are the focus of espionage concerns in the West. This week, a professor at a Texas University who had access to NASA secrets was on conspiracy charges for hiding his affiliation with the Thousand Talents plan.

Mr Wang said scientific co-­operation was “integral” to the Australia-China relationship and “for the benefit of mankind”.

“I’d rather see the sunny side of our co-operation in technology and science,” he told the National Press Club.

He compared the scheme, which requires scientists to keep their participation secret, to Australia’s efforts to recruit skilled migrants. “I know there is a (program called) Australia’s Global Talent Independent Program, which is hosted by Home Affairs, I believe. And they have offices in Shanghai, recruiting Chinese scholars for research in Australia,” Mr Wang said.

“It’s up to scientists to decide where to work, who to collaborate (with), and who to marketise their future results (with).”

Mr Wang rejected Australian claims of economic coercion, despite trade bans on Australian beef and barley, and a new anti-dumping inquiry targeting Australian wine. He said there had been more than 100 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases launched by Australia against China over the years, with 10 matters still pending.

By this measure, China could say Australian economic coercion was “tenfold” that of China, he said.

Mr Wang sidestepped questions about the repeated attempts by Australian ministers — especially Trade Minister Simon Birmingham — to speak to their Chinese counterparts.

“Under COVID-19, it’s not possible to organise face-to-face exchanges between leaders of countries and even senior ministers. But the diplomatic channels are always open,” he said.

The diplomat talked up his country’s “socialist” system, saying “Chinese discipline” had en­abled the nation to recover from the coronavirus to the point that it was able to host beer and music festivals. “If you look at some other countries that claim to be the ­lantern of democracy — ­people suffered, people died,” Mr Wang said.