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| Julie Bishop dismisses Chinese criticism of Australia's foreign policy white paper | Julie Bishop dismisses Chinese criticism of Australia's foreign policy white paper |
| (2 months later) | |
| Minister says senior Chinese officials ‘respect the stand we have taken’ but Chinese foreign ministry spokesman criticises ‘irresponsible remarks’ in paper | |
| Gareth Hutchens | |
| Fri 24 Nov 2017 00.08 GMT | |
| Last modified on Fri 24 Nov 2017 00.21 GMT | |
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| Julie Bishop has dismissed criticism from Beijing about Australia’s foreign policy white paper, saying Chinese ambassador, Cheng Jingye, is very positive about the relationship between the two countries. | Julie Bishop has dismissed criticism from Beijing about Australia’s foreign policy white paper, saying Chinese ambassador, Cheng Jingye, is very positive about the relationship between the two countries. |
| She said she met Cheng on Thursday evening, and senior Chinese government officials “respect the stand we have taken in the white paper”. | She said she met Cheng on Thursday evening, and senior Chinese government officials “respect the stand we have taken in the white paper”. |
| China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, and the Communist party-owned tabloid Global Times sharply criticised passages in the white paper that were critical of China’s behaviour in the South China Sea, and wary of China’s rise as a global power. | China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, and the Communist party-owned tabloid Global Times sharply criticised passages in the white paper that were critical of China’s behaviour in the South China Sea, and wary of China’s rise as a global power. |
| Speaking on ABC radio on Friday, Bishop declined to engage with Kang’s remarks. | Speaking on ABC radio on Friday, Bishop declined to engage with Kang’s remarks. |
| “The Chinese foreign ministry said that our description of the relationship with China was objective,” she told the AM program. | “The Chinese foreign ministry said that our description of the relationship with China was objective,” she told the AM program. |
| “Last evening I met with the Chinese ambassador Cheng and he was very positive about the Australian-China relationship. In fact, today I am co-hosting a high-level China-Australia dialogue with senior people from the Chinese government and former foreign ministers and the like, and they are very upbeat and positive about the relationship. | “Last evening I met with the Chinese ambassador Cheng and he was very positive about the Australian-China relationship. In fact, today I am co-hosting a high-level China-Australia dialogue with senior people from the Chinese government and former foreign ministers and the like, and they are very upbeat and positive about the relationship. |
| “The white paper is principled, it’s pragmatic, and it sets out very clearly our interests, our values, and our priorities. And I think other nations will respect that.” | “The white paper is principled, it’s pragmatic, and it sets out very clearly our interests, our values, and our priorities. And I think other nations will respect that.” |
| The white paper says it is in Australia’s interests to pursue a cooperative relationship with China, but it contains language critical of China’s military posturing, and characterises the disputes in the South China Sea as “a major fault line in the regional order”. | The white paper says it is in Australia’s interests to pursue a cooperative relationship with China, but it contains language critical of China’s military posturing, and characterises the disputes in the South China Sea as “a major fault line in the regional order”. |
| “Australia is particularly concerned by the unprecedented pace and scale of China’s activities,” the paper says. “Australia opposes the use of disputed features and artificial structures in the South China Sea for military purposes. | “Australia is particularly concerned by the unprecedented pace and scale of China’s activities,” the paper says. “Australia opposes the use of disputed features and artificial structures in the South China Sea for military purposes. |
| “Elsewhere in the region, Australia is concerned about the potential for the use of force or coercion in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait,” it says. | “Elsewhere in the region, Australia is concerned about the potential for the use of force or coercion in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait,” it says. |
| Kang rebuked Australia on Thursday for “irresponsible remarks” in the white paper about the South China Sea, saying Beijing was “gravely concerned about them”. | Kang rebuked Australia on Thursday for “irresponsible remarks” in the white paper about the South China Sea, saying Beijing was “gravely concerned about them”. |
| “We have noted that the white paper issued by the Australian government has given an overall positive evaluation of China’s development and China-Australia relations but made irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue,” he said. | “We have noted that the white paper issued by the Australian government has given an overall positive evaluation of China’s development and China-Australia relations but made irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue,” he said. |
| “Australia is not a party of the South China Sea issue, and has kept saying it takes no stance on the relevant territorial sovereignty disputes. We urge the Australian side to honor its commitment and stop irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue.” | “Australia is not a party of the South China Sea issue, and has kept saying it takes no stance on the relevant territorial sovereignty disputes. We urge the Australian side to honor its commitment and stop irresponsible remarks on the South China Sea issue.” |
| An editorial in the Global Times dismissed Australia as a country that was “not that important”, saying it was economically dependent on China but showed “little gratitude” towards Beijing. | An editorial in the Global Times dismissed Australia as a country that was “not that important”, saying it was economically dependent on China but showed “little gratitude” towards Beijing. |
| “Chinese students and visitors bring huge sums of money to Australia every year. China is also the main buyer of Australian minerals and beef,” the editorial said. | “Chinese students and visitors bring huge sums of money to Australia every year. China is also the main buyer of Australian minerals and beef,” the editorial said. |
| “Yet, criticism of China from Australian officials and biased reporting against China in Australia’s media continues. | “Yet, criticism of China from Australian officials and biased reporting against China in Australia’s media continues. |
| “Australia is difficult to be reasoned with or be comforted. Fortunately, the country is not that important and China can move its ties with Australia to a back seat and disregard its sensitivities. | “Australia is difficult to be reasoned with or be comforted. Fortunately, the country is not that important and China can move its ties with Australia to a back seat and disregard its sensitivities. |
| Bishop said people ought to be mindful that negative media coverage from China had come from a Communist party-owned tabloid. | Bishop said people ought to be mindful that negative media coverage from China had come from a Communist party-owned tabloid. |
| “The feedback that I have had from senior Chinese officials is that they respect the stand we’ve taken in the white paper. | “The feedback that I have had from senior Chinese officials is that they respect the stand we’ve taken in the white paper. |
| “It’s the first comprehensive analysis of our international engagement in 14 years and I believe it sets forth a very realistic, clear-eyed and pragmatic approach as to how we can use foreign policy to further our national interests, both strategically and economically.” | “It’s the first comprehensive analysis of our international engagement in 14 years and I believe it sets forth a very realistic, clear-eyed and pragmatic approach as to how we can use foreign policy to further our national interests, both strategically and economically.” |
| Julie Bishop | |
| Foreign policy | |
| Australian politics | |
| China | |
| South China Sea | |
| Asia Pacific | |
| news | |
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