New Chinese Envoy Meets Australian Foreign Minister For ‘Frank’ Discussions

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne speaks at the 2022 Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Alexandra Beier/Getty Images)

Australia’s foreign minister has met with the new Chinese ambassador in Sydney amid an ongoing Beijing-instigated diplomatic freeze and has called on the regime to help end the invasion of Ukraine.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) said Minister Marise Payne had “frank” discussions with Xiao Qian on March 9.

“The Minister for Foreign Affairs set out frankly Australia’s positions on a range of issues, including the importance of appropriate ministerial and other high-level dialogue and engagement, stability in the Indo-Pacific, free and open trade, human rights and the welfare of Australians detained in China,” according to a readout of the meeting.

“She also articulated Australia’s expectation that China use its influence to encourage and advise Russia to end the illegal invasion of Ukraine,” it continued.

“Australia remains committed to a constructive relationship with China in which we can pursue areas of cooperation while remaining consistent with our own national sovereign interests and focussed on stability.”

Payne’s stance echoes ongoing calls from Prime Minister Scott Morrison who has pushed Beijing to be firm on Moscow.

“At a time when the world was seeking to put additional sanctions on Russia, they [Beijing] have eased restrictions on trade of Russia wheat into China,” Morrison told reporters on Feb. 25, citing a report in the South China Morning Post.

“And that is simply unacceptable. China seeks to play a positive role in world affairs. They say they seek peace. And I welcome those sentiments and I welcome their comments which talk about trying to get to a position where these violent acts can cease.

“But that said, you don’t go and throw a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period when it’s invading other countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Xiao’s arrival on Australia Day came packaged with a more conciliatory tone from Beijing and a pledge to “eliminate misunderstanding and suspicion.”

His arrival comes after former ambassador, Cheng Jingye, vacated his post in October 2021.

Cheng was the face of Beijing’s “wolf-warrior” diplomacy, which saw the official adopt more confrontational rhetoric against Australia while the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) instigated an ongoing economic coercion campaign in response to Foreign Minister Payne’s calls for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

Coercion measures against Australian exports included arbitrary border testing and inspections, the imposition of tariffs, unwarranted delays in listing export establishments, and the issuing of import licenses.

While Xiao has hinted at a softer touch, he has not shied from exercising stern rhetoric in the past.

In September 2021, he wrote in the Jakarta Post that Washington D.C.’s renewed push for an investigation into COVID-19 was a “political farce.”

“The so-called origin tracing investigation of the U.S. government by its intelligence community is clearly politicising the issue of origin tracing,” he wrote in an op-ed. “Such a practice disturbs and sabotages international cooperation on origin tracing and on the global fight against the pandemic.”

Former Australian diplomat and current Liberal MP Dave Sharma had doubts about Beijing’s change of attitude.

“China might be changing its tactics but its ultimate goals and objectives I think have not shifted here,” Sharma told Sky News.

“I think they’re desirous of improving relations with Australia. We’re certainly keen to improve relations with them but without sacrificing any of our core national interests,” he said.