Strained relations between China and Australia continue after the Australian government updated its travel warning for China, and also offered safe haven for people fleeing Hong Kong's new laws. Both decisions mark more milestones in the deteriorating relations between the two nations.
The relationship between Australia and China appears to have sunk to its lowest level in decades, with travel warnings, sanctions and Australia's call for answers on the origin of COVID-19 further fueling tensions.
In the latest example of diplomatic instability, China is threatening retaliation after Australia's offer of safe haven to the people of Hong Kong. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia will suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong, in response to new national security laws imposed by China and allow some 10,000 people from Hong Kong currently working or studying in Australia, to be given a pathway to permanent residency.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian is urging Australia to avoid causing further damage to bilateral relations. "The relevant remarks and measures announced by the Australian side seriously violate international laws and the basic norms governing international relations, and they are a gross interference in China's internal affairs".
China will not accept this. We strongly condemn this and reserve the right to take further actions. All consequences will be borne entirely by the Australian side.
The latest condemnation from China comes after Australia pushed China for answers earlier this year on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, China imposed an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley after labeling global calls for an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus - as "politically motivated".
Australia also recently updated its travel advice for China, warning authorities have detained foreigners because they're 'endangering national security' meaning Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention.
Peter Jennings, the Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says the ongoing diplomatic tensions are likely to produce more reaction from China. "I think there will be symbolic tariffs and sanctions against small exports that China can do without much cost to itself".
All the big export items, coal, oil, liquid natural gas, iron ore, China wants that.
The Australian government established diplomatic relations with China in 1972 and China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner, accounting for 26 per cent of Australia's trade with the world. Two-way trade reached a record $235 billion in 2018–19 (up 20.5 per cent year on year).
China is also a major source of international students and tourists, with more than 205,000 students arriving in 2018 and more than than 1.4 million tourists in the same period. China has also warned its students not to travel to Australia, claiming there had been in increase in racist incidents towards Chinese students.
Felix Patrikeeff is the President of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Institute of International Affairs and a former academic at the University of Adelaide. He says Australia is in for a stormy ride: "Well we have already suffered considerably through the pulling of beef exports, barley and coal. We depend a lot on China for our exports, mainly primary goods. In addition we are highly dependent on China for finished and semi-finished goods, that is imports. And it is there that China can add a great deal of pressure".
They have already warned students, they have already warned tourists. It could turn into a very, very ugly confrontation.
Last week Defence Minister Linda Reynolds accused China of unsettling the stability of the Indo-Pacific as the federal government boosts its multi-billion-dollar defence strategy. Ms Reynolds identified China as one of the primary factors influencing the government's new approach to strategic positioning within the Indo-Pacific.
China has a growing military presence in the South-China Sea and East-China Sea, which includes training exercises, land claims and the deployment of long-range missiles. Mr Patrikeeff says Australia's criticism of China's influence in the region is ill-timed has only further added to tensions. "China has been active in the region very strongly. To date there have not been many cries foul coming from the south-east Asian area which is one of the most important areas of China. If they are not shouting foul, then we should not be anticipating anything at this particularly difficult time."
