Скачать или смотреть Foreign affairs diplomat calls out China’s ‘coercion’

Australia's top diplomat has called on China not to resort to coercion – arguing Beijing has more to gain through cooperation as the relationship continues to sour.

“No power this large and globally integrated can escape scrutiny or debate,” Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Frances Adamson said.

“China may have reached a point where it believes that it can largely set the terms of its future engagement with the world.

“If it has, I believe it is mistaken.

“There is far more to be gained for China and for everyone else through working constructively and collaboratively … without resort to pressure or coercion.”

China’s coercion has also been called out by US Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse Jr who accused the communist nation’s embassy of foreign interference after releasing a list of 14 grievances with Canberra – including the ban on Huawei, attempts to “torpedo” Victoria’s involvement in Belt and Road Initiative and calling for an independent inquiry into COVID-19.

“You would never see a US embassy hand such a list to a reporter in Australia,” he said.