Tony Abbott says we'll 'speak our mind' on China’s new air-defence zone
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Version 0 of 1. The prime minister has strongly backed the foreign minister, Julie Bishop’s criticism of China’s decision to impose an air-defence zone in the East China Sea, saying it was a case of standing up for Australia’s values. “I think it’s important for Australia to stand up for its values. We have to be reasonable and proportionate about these things and we have to treat other countries and their leaders with respect and with courtesy but where we think Australia’s values and interests have been compromised, I think it is important to speak our mind,” Abbott said. “We believe in freedom of navigation and navigation of the seas, navigation of the air … that is why it was important to call the Chinese ambassador and put a point of view to him.” Bishop drew a sharp rebuke from China when she criticised its decision to impose the air-defence zone without warning or consultation, but she denies she overstepped the mark. "Australia has made clear its opposition to any coercive or unilateral actions to change the status quo in the East China Sea," she said in a statement on Tuesday. China's foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang was quoted by AFP as replying: "Australia's irresponsible statements on the East Sea air defence identification zone are completely mistaken. China cannot accept them.” He called on Australia to "immediately correct its mistake, so as to avoid damaging China-Australia relations”. Bishop reiterated her position on Thursday, saying: "This is long-standing Australian policy to oppose any unilateral or coercive action by any country that could add to the tensions that currently exist in the East China Sea.” She confirmed that China called in a senior Australian diplomat in Beijing to explain her comments. "It's part of the ongoing discussion about our concerns over this issue," she said. Bishop said Australia was not taking sides in China's territorial dispute with Japan, and was not the only country to express concerns about China's actions. She expected to discuss the matter with Beijing on her forthcoming visit. She also said she didn't believe the disagreement would affect the Abbott government's hopes of securing a free trade agreement with China next year. Treasurer Joe Hockey backed that assessment and said Bishop had done "exactly the right thing" by criticising China. The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Ma Zhaoxu, issued a statement overnight criticising the federal government's "finger-pointing" and defending Beijing's actions. "The move is aimed at safeguarding national sovereignty and security of territory and territorial airspace and maintaining the order of flight," he said. "It is not directed against any specific country or target. China does not accept Australia's groundless accusations." The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, said the Abbott government had had a "rocky start" to foreign affairs. "I think it's fair to say the federal government has a number of spot fires which have emerged," he told reporters in Canberra. "We accept that they've had a rocky start in foreign affairs. We want them to get it right." But Shorten wouldn't say whether he believed Bishop was right to criticise China's actions, saying he did not intend to "coach the government from the grandstand". Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |