China praises Daniel Andrews for defending ‘peace and justice’ but accuses Australia of ‘undermining stability’

Beijing has applauded Daniel Andrews even as it fumes at Australia and its allies over a joint freedom of navigation exercise conducted during Xi Jinping’s big military parade.

Daniel Andrews attends a medal ceremony for visiting foreign dignitaries that attended to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese over Japanese conflict.

Beijing has applauded former Victorian premier Daniel ­Andrews for joining the Chinese government in defending “peace and ­justice,” as the People’s Liberation Army accused Australia and its ­allies of “undermining regional peace and stability” by conducting a joint freedom-of-navigation ­exercise on the day of President Xi Jinping’s vast military parade.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Friday night suggested Mr Andrews and other “leaders, former statesman, high-level officials, ­envoys and friends” were examples for the Albanese government and others in the international community to follow, after the former premier appeared on Mr Xi’s red carpet at the parade, and ­attended a medal ceremony for family members of foreign soldiers who fought alongside China in World War II.

Asked by The Australian about the controversy surrounding Mr Andrews’ attendance at the ­parade, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said those who joined Mr Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were showing their commitment to “defending historical memory” and “peace and justice”.

“China stands ready to work with all peace-loving countries and people to have a correct ­perception of history, jointly ­defend the fruits of World War II and the post-war international order and safeguard peace and ­stability,” Mr Guo said.

The comments came after ­Beijing’s propaganda machine continued to feature Mr Andrews. News agency Xinhua reported on his attendance at the medal ­ceremony, where he was near the centre, in the front row of the ­family picture of the event run by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign ­Countries.

People familiar with Mr Andrews’ China-focused consultancy have said he hoped this week’s photos, above all his picture with China’s President on a red carpet in Tiananmen Square, will help ­attract more Chinese business clients.

While Mr Andrews was being praised in China, ALP president Wayne Swan joined the chorus of critics of the former premier’s decision to attend the military parade, defying Canberra’s efforts to demote Australian representation. Anthony Albanese’s ­decision to lower official representation below ambassador level was accompanied by a joint maritime operation that enraged Beijing.

An Australian navy vessel joined counterparts from Canada, the Philippines and the US for the exercise, which began on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday, as Mr Xi brought together his historic assembly in Tiananmen Square to admire the PLA’s increasingly lethal capabilities. In a statement, Australia’s defence department said the exercise was conducted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

Daniel Andrews meets Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing,

“The Maritime Cooperative Activity was conducted from 2 to 3 September 2025, with the Royal Australian Navy’s guided-missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane participating alongside the Philippine Navy’s frigate BRP Jose Rizal and the Royal Canadian Navy’s frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec,” the department said.

“P-8A Poseidon maritime ­patrol aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force and the United States Navy also supported the activity.

“This MCA demonstrates the collective commitment of Australia and its partners to upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

A PLA spokesman denounced the exercise.

“The Philippines is soliciting foreign countries to conduct so-called joint patrols, undermining regional peace and stability,” said a spokesperson for the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli added: “The theatre command’s troops remain on high alert at all times and resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. Any attempt to disrupt the situation in the South China Sea or create hotspots will not succeed.”

He noted that China’s navy had responded with its own “routine patrol”.

China’s official mouthpieces bristled at the “noteworthy” timing of this “latest provocation” by Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the US.  

“This makes the ­Marcos government’s move extremely egregious as the Philippines also suffered from Japanese aggression,” the state owned China Daily said in an editorial in its Friday edition.

Asked by The Australian about the Albanese government’s decision to send a low-ranking offical below ambassador level to the parade, Beijing urged Australia and other countries to adopt a “right perception” of history.

“In World War II, Chinese and Australian people upheld justice and fought together,” Mr Guo said. “China is ready to work with all peace-loving countries and people to consolidate the right perception of history and uphold the outcomes and international order after World War II to safeguard world peace and stability.”

Xi Jinping at his military parade in Tiananmen Square. Picture; Getty Images.

On Friday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles met their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, Australia’s most important strategic partner in Asia. The Japanese government has been particularly concerned about Beijing’s elevation of China’s war-time history.

Senator Wong on Friday said shared “values and trust” in each other underpinned Australia’s relationship with Japan.

”We do face very difficult, challenging strategic circumstances,” she said after closed-door discussions, much of them centred on China but also swapping notes on their shared vital ally, President Donald Trump’s erratic America.

China’s military and paramilitary-like coast guard have been increasingly aggressive in recent years as Beijing asserts what it maintains are territorial rights to almost the entire South China Sea and in contested waters in the East China Sea.

In 2016, the Turnbull government enraged Beijing by publicly supporting a ruling by a tribunal arbitrating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Chinese government has never accepted the decision by the international court, dismissing it as “nothing but a piece of waste paper”.

Canberra has maintained its support of the tribunal’s decision throughout the Morrison and Albanese governments and reaffirmed its support again on Thursday to the “final and legally binding” Judgement.