China's new ambassador to Australia, Liu Jinsong, has made an early impression by demonstrating a dual approach to public relations and power dynamics, according to Peter van Onselen in the Daily Mail. Arriving in Sydney, Liu took a bus to Canberra, an act described as astute political theater that allowed him to engage with the public in an accessible manner.
This public relations strategy, however, was coupled with a firm diplomatic message. Before his public engagement, Liu was seen with individuals associated with Beijing's agenda for Taiwan's "peaceful reunification." This approach, van Onselen notes, frames "peaceful" as conditional on Taiwan accepting its future without resistance.
During his Canberra visit, Liu emphasized the need for "mutual respect" and deference to each other's "core interests and major concerns" in bilateral relations. Beijing typically defines its core interests as non-negotiable, including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong, viewing them as internal affairs off-limits to international commentary. China also considers its claims in the South China Sea as sovereignty matters not open to external questioning.
Van Onselen contrasts this with China's approach to other nations' domestic matters, where Beijing often lectures on issues like Australia's AUKUS security pact or the return of Port Darwin's ownership to Australian control. This, he argues, is not mutual respect but a "one-way permission structure."
The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, is credited with securing the removal of trade barriers affecting $20 billion in Australian exports, while maintaining commitments to AUKUS and foreign interference laws. The ultimate test of China's economic influence, however, lies in whether such actions deter future Australian governments from making decisions Beijing opposes.
Australia finds itself navigating relations between a shifting U.S. foreign policy and an economically vital China. The suggested path forward is neither hostility nor submission. Instead, Australia should seek to expand trade where interests align while insisting on reciprocal respect.
This principle means China may advocate for its interests, such as its position on Taiwan, while Australia defends the status quo and its sovereign right to control critical infrastructure and limit foreign influence. Conversely, Australia may object to actions like China testing missiles in the Pacific. True mutual respect, van Onselen concludes, requires China to accept Australia's right to advocate for its interests just as China advocates for its own. Anything less, he suggests, amounts to subjugation.