Tag: Australia

China asks Australia to abandon its interference in Hong Kong’s affairs
2Mar By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

China asks Australia to abandon its interference in Hong Kong’s affairs

China’s Foreign Ministry has urged Australia to abandon its interference in Hong Kong’s affairs and lashed out at the country for granting protection visas to Hong Kong passport holders in December.“Hong Kong affairs fall entirely within China’s internal affairs. No foreign country has the right to interfere,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday.“China urges Australia to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs in any way, to avoid further damage to China-Australia relations,” Wang said.A report from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs on the processing of Subclass 866 onshore protection visas indicated that fewer than five Hong Kong passport holders had their applications approved in December.The allocation marked the first time that ...
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Amid worsening ties, China expected to sanction Australian copper, sugar
3Nov By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, Market, World

Amid worsening ties, China expected to sanction Australian copper, sugar

As relations between China and Australia continue to get worse on a range of issues, importers across Beijing are expected to brace for a round of sanctions on copper ore and copper concentrate as well as sugar this week.The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has issued a notice to exporters claiming that it had found a pest in imported log timber from Queensland and has banned all log exports from the Australian state. It further claimed that it had found contamination in barley shipments from Australian grain exporter Emerald Grain as well.As per repots, bans on copper ore and copper concentrate, as well as sugar, are expected to be introduced this week.In September, China suspended barley imports from Australia’s largest grain exporter, CBH Group, after also detecting pes...
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France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region
4Oct By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region

India, Australia and France recently held talks for the first time under a trilateral framework with focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.The virtual meeting was co-chaired by François Delattre, Secretary General - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary - Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Frances Adamson, Secretary - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.“The focus of the dialogue was on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.According to the official statement released by the Ministry, the outcome-oriented meeting was held with an objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and s...
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China denounces statement of ‘five eyes’ on Hong Kong as meddling
30Aug By Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, USA, World

China denounces statement of ‘five eyes’ on Hong Kong as meddling

The Chinese embassy in Canada has denounced the five eyes alliance for their statement on Hong Kong government's disqualification of candidates and postponement of Legislative Council elections.On July 9, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States (the five eyes) had said that the disqualification of candidates and postponement of elections have undermined the democratic process that has been fundamental to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity.In a sharp response, the Chinese embassy in Canada, in a statement said, “…the foreign ministers of Canada and other countries made a statement which once again contained irresponsible comments on the Hong Kong affairs and amounted to gross interference in China's domestic affairs. China expresses its strong dissatisfac...
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Fierce competition starts between US, China for energy corridors in central asia
21Aug By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China, World

Fierce competition starts between US, China for energy corridors in central asia

Amid already heightened tensions between the United States and China, the Trump administration has now called "for a new alliance of democracies" to counter China's aggressive policies, and, in a retaliatory move, Beijing has begun adding more potential new trade and energy corridors linking Central Asia with South Asia and the Middle East.To counter China's aggressive expansionist policies in the South China Sea, the US has decided to have a quadrilateral alliance with Japan, Australia and India.Maleeha Lodhi, who has served as Pakistan's ambassador to Britain, the US and the United Nations said, “Fundamental realignments are taking place across the world at a challenging, transformative time in international affairs when global power is shifting to the East. Our region is no exception an...
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Indonesia, Australia come into ‘Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’
28Jul By Michael SmithNo Comments
USA

Indonesia, Australia come into ‘Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement’

In order to reduce trade barriers and boost economic growth, Australia and Indonesia came into the “Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement” (IA-CEPA) on July 5.The agreement will open up new opportunities for Australian and Indonesian businesses, primary producers, service providers and investors.“The mutual benefits from this Agreement are critical. Australia wants not only a stronger Australia but also a stronger Indonesia. By reducing trade barriers, we can grow both of our economies and by encouraging trade and investment in areas of high potential for Indonesia, we can build greater capacity for its continued successful development,” the Australian government said in a statement.A key component of the IA-CEPA is a sweeping free-trade agreement (FTA) that will...
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China’s use of economic sanctions now fail to serve its geopolitical goals
20Jul By Michael SmithNo Comments
USA

China’s use of economic sanctions now fail to serve its geopolitical goals

China's practice of imposing economic sanctions on countries to achieve its own geopolitical goals is nothing new and the regular phenomenon of China bullying others has, in fact, helped other countries to keep several options at bay, said the author of "China's Crony Capitalism", Minxin Pei.Recently, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued an official warning against travel to Australia because of "a significant increase in racist acts and violence against Chinese and Asians in Australia". Two months ago, after Australia had demanded an investigation into the coronavirus outbreak, Beijing imposed an 80 per cent "anti-dumping" tariff on Australian barley, costing Australian 500 million Australian dollars a year.Minxin said Australia is only the latest victim of Chinese bullying....
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After India, Australia may ban TikTok
19Jul By Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

After India, Australia may ban TikTok

Following India’s ban on 59 Chinese apps, including highly popular TikTok application, many parliamentarians in Australia are proposing a ban on TikTok, citing concerns that the Chinese government might be using this app to collect data from users.Recently, Senator Jim Molan of the Liberal Party stated that the Chinese government was misusing TikTok. Another MP has revealed plans to put TikTok before the Foreign Interference through Social Media senate inquiry over fears that the app developers are sharing user data with the Chinese government.He also says this is an effort by the Chinese Communist Party to collect data of users in other countries. “It might be dressed differently but it's the same beast.”TikTok is owned by Chinese tech company Bytedance and has repeatedly been criticized ...
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