logo
‘Very close relationship': Xi Jinping the ‘number one guest' for Russia's Victory Day parade

‘Very close relationship': Xi Jinping the ‘number one guest' for Russia's Victory Day parade

Sky News AU07-05-2025

ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre Dr Matthew Sussex discusses Chinese President Xi Jinping's upcoming four-day visit to Russia.
'This is a visit to commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany,' Mr Sussex told Sky News Australia.
'Xi Jinping is going to be [Putin's] number one guest.
'It's a very close relationship, it's close in terms of economic ties, it's close in terms of military ties as well.
'If not an alliance, then certainly it's very much a sense of alignment against the West, against what the West stands for."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Coalition says Australia needs ‘immediate action' needed to solve 'desperate situation' in Australian Defence Force
Coalition says Australia needs ‘immediate action' needed to solve 'desperate situation' in Australian Defence Force

Sky News AU

timean hour ago

  • Sky News AU

Coalition says Australia needs ‘immediate action' needed to solve 'desperate situation' in Australian Defence Force

The federal Coalition has reiterated the need for Australia to boost its defence spending, with the shadow defence minister warning the situation was becoming 'desperate' and 'immediate action' is needed. The Albanese government has rejected the Trump administration's calls for Australia to increase it's defence spending, despite NATO agreeing to increase it's target to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035. Defending the position on Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Australia's defence spending should be driven by the capabilities we need, not an arbitrary target. "We start with the capability. We don't start with the dollars," Mr Burke told Sky News Australia. But shadow defence minister Angus Taylor said the Albanese government wasn't even meeting the goals set out in its own Defence Strategic Review. 'It should be based on need, but his own defence strategic review has laid out where the money needs to be spent, and it's not being spent. I mean, this is the point, this government's not even meeting its own goals,' Mr Taylor told Sunday Agenda. 'Forget the pressure being put on by the United States, this is about what's appropriate for us. 'We are seeing authoritarian regimes across the globe flexing their muscles, and open democratic societies like ours need to stand up for what we believe in. 'And if we are to have control of our own destiny, if we're to play the role we need to play in ensuring we have peace through deterrence in our region, the spending is too low. And the government's own plan demonstrates that." Mr Taylor said defence experts were warning that Australia risked having a 'paper ADF'. 'This is a desperate situation now, and it needs immediate action,' the shadow minister added. The shadow defence minister said there were 'a whole series of areas' in defence that are currently underfunded. 'Our naval surface fleet is not where it needs to be,' he said. 'Right now we're even seeing ships that are not getting the appropriate level of maintenance and sustainment, so they're not in operation as they should be. 'We know we need to increase spending on recruitment and making sure we're getting the people we need into our defence force. We are thousands and thousands of people short of where we should be. "But we also know we need hardening of our northern facilities in places like Tyndall, in Darwin, in Townsville. 'We need to make sure that the Henderson sub facility is getting the investment it needs to be able to build the subs, and also play our role in maintenance and sustainment. 'We need to invest in that drone and counter-drone technology, which we know is playing such an important role in conflicts across the globe. 'All of these things desperately need investment. The underinvestment is really showing.' Mr Taylor said keeping Australians safe and making sure we have peace in the region was the 'first and most important imperative' for government and an inability to do this is a major failure. 'If a government is not in a position to make the investments necessary to achieve peace through deterrence in the region it is in, then it has failed its people,' he said.

Taiwan's vice president went to Europe. China followed and ‘planned to stage car crash'
Taiwan's vice president went to Europe. China followed and ‘planned to stage car crash'

The Age

time3 hours ago

  • The Age

Taiwan's vice president went to Europe. China followed and ‘planned to stage car crash'

Prague: Taiwan's Vice President, Hsiao Bi-khim, says she won't be intimidated by China after Czech military intelligence said Chinese diplomats and secret service followed Hsiao and planned to intimidate her physically when she visited Prague last year. Hsiao visited the Czech Republic in March 2024. Prague does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but has fostered warm relations with the democratically governed island, which China views as its own territory despite Taiwan's rejection. Czech media reported last year that a Chinese diplomat had run a red light when following her car. Czech public radio news website said last week that the Chinese had also planned to stage a demonstrative car crash. 'I had a great visit to Prague & thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality & ensuring my safety. The CCP's unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community,' Hsiao wrote in a post on X social media platform on Saturday, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Her post was linked to the Reuters report on the incident. In a separate post on X, Hsiao thanked global parliamentarians who have expressed solidarity against 'violence and coercion.' 'Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation,' Hsiao wrote. Czech Military Intelligence spokesman said Chinese diplomats in Prague had taken actions that violated diplomatic rules. 'This consisted of physically following the vice president, gathering information on her schedule and attempts to document her meetings with important representatives of the Czech political and public scene,' spokesman Jan Pejsek said in emailed comments to Reuters.

Taiwan's vice president went to Europe. China followed and ‘planned to stage car crash'
Taiwan's vice president went to Europe. China followed and ‘planned to stage car crash'

Sydney Morning Herald

time3 hours ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Taiwan's vice president went to Europe. China followed and ‘planned to stage car crash'

Prague: Taiwan's Vice President, Hsiao Bi-khim, says she won't be intimidated by China after Czech military intelligence said Chinese diplomats and secret service followed Hsiao and planned to intimidate her physically when she visited Prague last year. Hsiao visited the Czech Republic in March 2024. Prague does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but has fostered warm relations with the democratically governed island, which China views as its own territory despite Taiwan's rejection. Czech media reported last year that a Chinese diplomat had run a red light when following her car. Czech public radio news website said last week that the Chinese had also planned to stage a demonstrative car crash. 'I had a great visit to Prague & thank the Czech authorities for their hospitality & ensuring my safety. The CCP's unlawful activities will NOT intimidate me from voicing Taiwan's interests in the international community,' Hsiao wrote in a post on X social media platform on Saturday, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. Her post was linked to the Reuters report on the incident. In a separate post on X, Hsiao thanked global parliamentarians who have expressed solidarity against 'violence and coercion.' 'Taiwan will not be isolated by intimidation,' Hsiao wrote. Czech Military Intelligence spokesman said Chinese diplomats in Prague had taken actions that violated diplomatic rules. 'This consisted of physically following the vice president, gathering information on her schedule and attempts to document her meetings with important representatives of the Czech political and public scene,' spokesman Jan Pejsek said in emailed comments to Reuters.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store