Anti-China rant rattles nerves over trade talks

CLIVE Palmer’s anti-Chinese ­tirade has worried government sources, who fear that it could complicate free-trade negotiations with Beijing.

CLIVE Palmer’s anti-Chinese ­tirade has worried government sources, who fear that it could complicate free-trade negotiations with Beijing just as they are set to reach their crucial finale.

Tony Abbott and senior ­Chinese officials have said that they are confident a free-trade deal can be ­finalised by the end of the year. More negotiations are set for next month in China.

Australian concerns emerged after Chinese newspaper The ­Global Times said in an editorial that Mr Palmer should be damned as the culprit but, because of him, “China must teach Canberra a ­lesson for sabotaging a bilateral ­relationship’’.

The editorial went on to say that business with Australia should continue, “but this country must be marginalised in China’s global strategy’’.

A government source described Mr Palmer’s comments as “extremely unhelpful’’.

Mr Palmer’s angry remarks on the ABC’s Q&A on Monday night were a great affront to the Chinese and threatened to undermine the extensive work that senior government members had put into building a strong relationship with the Chinese.

But, the Prime Minister, asked yesterday whether the outburst by the federal member for Fairfax put such things as the free-trade agreement in jeopardy, played down the likely impact.

“I think the Chinese appreciate Australia enough to understand that Mr Palmer just speaks for himself on an issue like this and he certainly isn’t speaking for Australia,’’ Mr Abbott said.

He said that Mr Palmer’s outburst was “over the top, shrill and wrong’’.

Mr Abbott said Mr Palmer’s outburst seemed to be more of an ­expression of a personal business issue than of considered national policy.

“We need a very strong relationship with China,” the Prime Minister said.

“Luckily we have one, it’s getting strong and getting better.

“I was in China myself a few months ago and negotiations for a free-trade agreement with China are accelerating and if we can pull that off that’ll be very, very good for Australia.’’