Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, amid renewed tensions following a South China Sea confrontation between the two countries’ militaries. During the meeting, Albanese directly raised concerns over a Chinese military aircraft’s use of flares near an Australian patrol plane, while Li urged for stronger bilateral cooperation and stability in ties.
According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in China-Australia relations and called for deeper strategic alignment and policy coordination. He highlighted the role of dialogue mechanisms such as the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue and Joint Economic Commission, and expressed interest in upgrading the bilateral free trade agreement to further expand economic cooperation.
Li also pledged continued support for Chinese investment in Australia, urging Canberra to ensure an open, transparent, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses. He further emphasized cooperation in youth exchanges, education, and tourism, areas that have seen steady recovery since the normalization of bilateral ties.
For his part, Albanese said Australia remains committed to maintaining open communication with China, deepening mutual understanding, and managing differences responsibly, while expanding cooperation in trade and other areas of shared interest. After the meeting, Albanese told reporters that he had raised the flare incident “directly and clearly,” calling it “a matter of concern” for Australia.
The meeting marked the seventh encounter between the two leaders since relations began to thaw in 2022, underscoring both sides’ willingness to address disagreements through dialogue despite ongoing friction.
The latest tensions stem from an October 19 incident in which Australia accused a Chinese fighter jet of firing flares near an Australian patrol aircraft over the South China Sea—an act Canberra described as unsafe and unprofessional. Beijing rejected the accusation, saying the Australian aircraft had violated Chinese sovereignty and that its forces took lawful and necessary countermeasures.
Beyond the South China Sea, Australia and China continue to vie for influence in the Pacific region, where both nations are seeking to strengthen defense and development partnerships with island states.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), October 27, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202510270194.aspx