Taiwanese news site NewTalk recently reported that the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. Wang Yi urged Australia to comply with a list of four actions to bring bilateral relations back on track. Australia’s new prime minister Anthony Albanese said he will “ignore” China’s demands. China asked for these four changes on the Australian side: One is to adhere to seeing China as a partner rather than an adversary. Two is to adhere to seeking common ground while reserving differences. Three is insisting on not targeting or being subject to third parties (without naming the U.S.), and four is to adhere to building a positive and pragmatic social foundation of public opinion. Albanese said in an interview that, although the meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries was a “constructive step,” Australia has not changed its position on any issue and will not respond to China’s demands. He emphasized that, “We only follow our own national interest.” Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said he was concerned about the four claims made by Beijing and called for not accepting any Chinese demands to repair bilateral relations. Tehan said bluntly, “Australia has not changed. The Chinese government has changed.”
Source: NewTalk, July 11, 2022
https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2022-07-11/783803