Chinese ambassador's ‘grandstanding' advice for Australia raises eyebrows
Australia not to be 'incited' by Nato's support for demands by the US to raise defence spending sharply and instead should cooperate with Beijing to resolve regional disputes.
Analysts say the 'unsolicited advice' is unlikely to sway Canberra and could backfire by reinforcing distrust of Beijing, ahead of Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese 's visit to
China and amid an ongoing debate in Australia over its defence spending.
In an opinion article published in The Australian newspaper on June 30, ambassador Xiao Qian said that some countries attending events such as the G7 summit and the recent Nato meeting had 'hyped up the so-called China threat narrative' to increase defence spending and 'even incited Australia to follow suit'.
'Dramatically increasing military spending places a heavy fiscal burden on the countries involved, undermining their efforts to boost economies and improve livelihoods, and further straining a global economy already struggling with weak recovery,' he said.
Australia currently spends just over 2 per cent of its GDP on defence, but is under growing pressure from the administration of US President
Donald Trump to raise that to 3.5 per cent. Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth have publicly pressed allies to boost spending, with Washington linking the issue to potential trade relief and deeper cooperation within
Aukus , which comprises Australia, the UK and the US.
Ian Hall, an international relations professor at Griffith University, said Canberra had resisted calls from Washington to boost defence spending significantly.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong housing authorities quietly open door for same-sex couples
Hong Kong's housing authorities have opened up applications for public rental and subsidised homes to same-sex couples as part of efforts to address a ruling from the city's top court last year, the Post has learned. The measures, including modifying the application form for seeking second-hand subsidised homes, were implemented without any public announcement. While lawmakers said the government had responded to the Court of Final Appeal's decision prudently and within a reasonable time frame, a concern group expressed hope that the changes could have been publicly announced. In a reply to the Post, the Housing Authority said: 'Upon receiving [public rental home] applications involving same-sex married spouses, we will handle the case in accordance with the practice adopted for the 'ordinary families' applicant category.' A spokesman added that the authority would continue to process such applications and those for buying subsidised flats from same-sex married couples. The authority had yet to receive any public rental housing applications from any same-sex couples as of Thursday.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong will benefit from recognising the rights of same-sex couples
The landmark ruling by Hong Kong's top court requiring the government to recognise same-sex relationships was a defining moment for the city. Grounded in law, but also basic human decency, the court gave officials two years to put in place a framework protecting the core rights of such couples, who are not permitted to marry in the city. The government unveiled its proposals last week, just four months ahead of the deadline and no one is happy with them. Members of the LGBTQ community are disappointed because they do not go far enough. Lawmakers are also angry. They hit out at the government for leaving insufficient time for the legislative process and failing to launch a public consultation. Some claimed the proposals would undermine Hong Kong's traditional family values. There is a need for calm and clarity. Some legislators appear to want to roll back the ruling because they disagree with it. But the judgment must be implemented. That should be non-negotiable. Otherwise, there will be a continuing breach of the law. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai was spot on when he said: 'A decision of the Court of Final Appeal, whether you like it or not or agree with it or not, is part of our judicial system,' adding that it must be respected. The legislators are on firmer ground when they complain about the late submission of the proposals and lack of public consultation.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong housing authorities quietly open door for same-sex couples
Hong Kong's housing authorities have opened up applications for public rental and subsidised homes to same-sex couples as part of efforts to address a ruling from the city's top court last year, the Post has learned. The measures, including modifying the application form for seeking second-hand subsidised homes, were implemented without any public announcement. While lawmakers said the government had responded to the Court of Final Appeal's decision prudently and within a reasonable time frame, a concern group expressed hope that the changes could have been publicly announced. In a reply to the Post, the Housing Authority said: 'Upon receiving [public rental home] applications involving same-sex married spouses, we will handle the case in accordance with the practice adopted for the 'ordinary families' applicant category.' A spokesman added that the authority would continue to process such applications and those for buying subsidised flats from same-sex married couples. The authority had yet to receive any public rental housing applications from any same-sex couples as of Thursday.
