Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has had what he described as a “big picture discussion about the geostrategic balances and influences in the world” with Beijing’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Following the pair’s hour-long meeting on March 21 at the Chinese consulate in Sydney, Mr. Keating said Mr. Wang “displayed a keen understanding of Australia’s strengths. Its complementarity with China’s own economy and the prospect of ever-rising living standards for both countries.”
He said the envoy was “very positive about putting bilateral difficulties behind us,” and was encouraged by the Albanese government’s efforts to restore “appropriate equilibrium” between the countries.
“[He also] emphasised China’s ability to keep on growing and strongly, pointing out that China is still only 55 percent urbanised—[with] another 20 percent to go,” Mr. Keating said in a statement.
Continuing Integration
“He both encouraged and welcomed Australia’s continuing integration with East Asia where he believed Australia’s future lies,” Mr. Keating added.The private, off-the-books diplomacy with Mr. Keating has divided Labor. Foreign Minister Penny Wong reminded the CCP that the pro-Beijing former prime minister has no influence over government policy ahead of the meeting, saying “ Mr. Keating is entitled to his views. He does not speak for the government nor the country.”
But Climate Change Minister and long-time member of Mr. Keating’s inner circle, Chris Bowen, said the 80-year-old former Labor leader was a “deeply respected” figure across Asia.
“It is entirely usual for a visiting foreign minister to seek out a former prime minister, particularly one who played the role he did in Australia finding security in Asia, not from Asia, as Paul Keating did all those years ago,” Mr. Bowen said.
‘A Calculated Humiliation’
Liberal senator James Paterson was even more outspoken, calling the meeting “incredibly unprofessional,” accusing the Labor leadership of lacking the courage to face the former PM.“Paul Keating is Australia’s most prominent critic of AUKUS. Paul Keating is Australia’s most prominent advocate of a closer relationship with China,” Mr. Paterson said.
“He is the most prominent defender of the Chinese government when it comes to their human rights abuses and other activities.”
The senator said the meeting was a “calculated humiliation” for Canberra because “every time Paul Keating says what he says, it causes total internal grief for this government, it fires up their branch members and their supporters in the community.”
Mr. Birmingham also criticised the former PM for being “incredibly unprofessional and undiplomatic” in his previous comment about foreign minister Penny Wong in particular.
“But not just the foreign minister, our dedicated, professional, impartial public servants in the intelligence community as well.”
Mr. Keating’s meeting with Mr. Wang was “deeply unwelcome here in Canberra in the Labor party,” but “none of them have had the courage to say that publicly,” the senator added.
“None of them have the courage to explain why they don’t think it’s in the national interest for Paul Keating to be running down our country with a foreign dignitary while they’re visiting.”
Asked about the private meeting at a press conference in Beijing, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson would only say that “China stands ready to continue our friendly communication and exchange with people of various sectors in Australia.”
