No need to be ‘anxious’ over China’s growing Pacific presence, envoy tells Australia
“It is not a strategy for military security, its a strategy to help policing their nation for social stability and basic order,” Xiao said, adding that there was “no need for any so-called anxiety on the part of Australia”.
Defence was an area “we need to work harder on,” he said, also saying that China had lodged a diplomatic protest with Australia over its congratulations to Taiwan, which China sees as its own, over the election of a new president.
Ties between Australia and its largest trading partner China improved last year after China lifted trade blocks imposed in 2020 on a raft of Australian exports.
A Chinese review of large dumping tariffs on Australian wine continued, an embassy official told the press conference.
“I cannot expect the case will come to such a conclusion,” he said.