Latest news with #AustraliaChinaRelations
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Australia should not sabotage its own efforts to boost ties with China
Chinese media outlets were keen to accentuate the positives of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China. However, sections of the Australian media played up the idea that China was attempting to drive a wedge between Australia and the United States and members of the Australian opposition criticised the visit, calling some of Albanese's stops 'indulgent'. The visit achieved much in some areas, but otherwise made little progress. Despite reported efforts by Elbridge Colby, US undersecretary of defence for policy, to seemingly sabotage the visit, Albanese deftly refused to allow questions about Taiwan to divert him from his mission of reaffirming the improvement of Australia-China relations. But if Albanese was trying to convince Chinese investors that Australia is a reliable place to invest in, he sabotaged himself. This is best summed up by the Australian Financial Review headline 'PM stares down China retaliation threat over Darwin Port sale'. The Albanese government is moving to overturn the China-based company Landbridge Group's 99-year lease on the port of Darwin just a decade into the lease period. It would be difficult to find a better and more pertinent example of Australia's limited reliability when it comes to long-term investment from China.
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese makes shock port vow ahead of big Xi Jinping meet
Anthony Albanese has been grilled by reporters over the future of the Port of Darwin during a Shanghai press conference. While speaking about the future of the industrial relationship between Australia and China on Monday, the Prime Minister was asked whether he would speak to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the Port of Darwin. The reporter said an 'influential state media influence' from China had posted an essay on Mr Albanese's trip, focusing on the Port of Darwin. The influencer warned that if Australia 'insists on tearing up the Port of Darwin contract, the Chinese side may take counter measures' such as 'restricting Australian market access in China or tightening imports of key resources.' 'We have a very clear position that we want the port to go into Australian ownership,' Mr Albanese said. 'We've been clear about it, orderly about it, and we will go through that process. 'I'm not sure who the blogger is … Governments cannot respond in policy terms to every time there is an article written, a tweet or a blog and change their position.' Landbridge Group is the Chinese-owned operator that hold a 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin, and it has frequently denied links to the Chinese military and the Chinese Communist Party.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Albanese to announce antisemitism measures; Sydney's Australian Turf Club chair resigns
Update: Date: 2025-07-09T20:32:51.000Z Title: Content: Australian business groups are 'cautiously optimistic' a visit to China by Anthony Albanese will help normalise a fragile relationship with Beijing. The prime minister will travel to China on Saturday for a six-day visit of Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, where he will be accompanied by a delegation of Australian business leaders. Australia China Business Council president David Olsson said the relationship between the two nations has had an 'incomplete recovery' with a changing market in China. 'While everyone's cautiously optimistic, I think we all recognise that the relationship remains somewhat fragile, and that's why these regular government to government dialogues is just so important,' he said. We have to stop seeing risk and opportunity as opposites and the challenge for Australia generally, is to engage with China in a way that's both commercially smart and politically durable. 'We need to keep this relationship going. So we have to sit back and think very carefully about how we're going to manage the risks that we see in the world at the moment in a way that serves our national interests. Albanese will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji to discuss global and regional issues in addition to trade and tourism opportunities. Update: Date: 2025-07-09T20:32:51.000Z Title: Chair of Australian Turf Clubs resigns after failed Rosehill Racecourse sale Content: The chair of Sydney's Australian Turf Club has resigned after failing in his bid to sell off the Rosehill Racecourse for 25,000 new homes. Peter McGauran was appointed chair of the board in August 2022, with his term due to expire in early next year. He also serves as a senior advisor at advisory and investment firm, Bondi Partners. The New South Wales government had offered $5bn for the privately owned racecourse, which would have made a significant contribution towards its target of 337,000 new dwellings by 2029. But in May, it was soundly rejected by 7,860 ATC members who voted 56% to 44% against the sale. The premier, Chris Minns, said history would look back on McGauran 'as someone who wasn't afraid to take bold ideas to the table'. Peter had a big vision for Sydney and Rosehill and I'll always respect him for that. We'd love him to stay on, but Peter has elected to pass on the baton. He's been a gentleman throughout – even in the face of tough debates – and always acted with integrity. We need more people bowling up ideas and trying to get things done for the city, not less. I thank him for his service and wish him all the best for what comes next. Update: Date: 2025-07-09T20:32:51.000Z Title: - AAP Content: Laurie Daley feels he is 'most definitely' the right man to coach NSW in 2026 as the playing group insists the coach cannot be blamed for the Blues' State of Origin capitulation. While I was disappointed with the result, I think the players have had a really good campaign, we just didn't nail the moments. We've got to make sure we're better at that. I don't see any reason why that group can't (win it next year) ... no issues there, mate. The playing group rushed to Daley's defence after the loss. 'He wasn't the reason that we lost tonight. It was us as players,' said halfback Nathan Cleary. The 2025 Origin series slipped through the Blues' fingers on Wednesday night as a polished Queensland dominated their hosts for a 24-12 win at Accor Stadium. Catch up on the game with this report from the Guardian's Jack Snape: Update: Date: 2025-07-09T20:32:51.000Z Title: Welcome Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the main talking points so far before Rafqa Touma steps up. Anthony Albanese is expected to front the media in Sydney later this morning along with his special envoy on antisemitism, Jillian Segal, to launch the government's new crackdown in the wake of a series of attacks on synagogues, Jewish schools and Jewish-owned businesses. We have more coming up. The chairman of Sydney's Australian Turf Club has resigned after his master plan to sell the Rosehill Racecourse to the NSW government for the building of 25,000 new homes was rejected by the club's members.
SBS Australia
08-07-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
'Political tension': Anthony Albanese, the US and China, explained
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Xinjping, questions have been raised over how the US will view the visit and whether there could be consequences for Australia. The visit comes after US President Donald Trump announced new tariff rates of 25 per cent on some trading partners, including Japan and South Korea. US tariffs on Australian products remain at 10 per cent, but with relations between the two allies strained, could the US respond negatively to Australia potentially strengthening ties with China? Here's what you need to know. Australia's relationship with China Albanese is set to visit China from Saturday, his second trip to the country since he became prime minister in 2022. China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner, and buys almost a third of Australia's exports. Trade between the two countries was worth almost $312 billion in 2024, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The relationship appears to be strengthening after a period of volatility, which included China placing restrictions on some Australian exports between 2020 and 2024. China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has called for greater collaboration in fields such as AI, healthcare and green energy under a revised free-trade deal between the two nations. In an opinion piece published in the Australian Financial Review, Xiao wrote that it was "time to advance bilateral relations with steady progress". He wrote that China was willing to review the two countries' trade agreement with "a more open attitude and higher standard", including further consolidating traditional areas and actively pursuing new growth areas. Christoph Nedopil, director of the Griffith University Asia Institute, said while there is a "mutual interest" in strengthening the relationship between Australia and China, this has been years in the making. He does not believe China is seeking to take advantage of rocky relationships between the US and its allies, including Australia. "China has been trying to make bilateral and multilateral alliances even before Trump was in office, it's not that the stabilisation of the Australia-China relationship only came when Trump was in office," Nedopil said. "And a number of the topics that are on the agenda are not new topics." In a press conference on Tuesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked whether the Australian government was considering freer trade with China, Korea and Japan in response to Trump's tariffs. Trump announced on Tuesday he would impose tariffs of at least 25 per cent on South Korea and Japan from August unless the countries can strike deals with the US. The US imposed tariffs on China of 145 per cent earlier this year and average US tariffs on Chinese exports now stand at around 50 per cent, according to the US-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. While Chalmers did not directly address the issue of the US tariffs, he said stabilising Australia's relationship with China was positive for the economy, workers, employers and industries. "A good, stable, reliable trading relationship with China is key to making sure that our economy continues to grow the right way," he said. "We want good, reliable, diverse trading relationships right around the world. We've got wonderful exports, we've got huge opportunities." Chalmers said the government was "optimistic about the future when it comes to Australia's place in the global economy". 'Political tension' between Australia and the US While Australia's ties with China could be building, the relationship with the US is somewhat strained, according to David Andrews, senior policy advisor at the Australian National University's National Security College. "It's a relationship we've had for decades and decades now, and we have consistently viewed that as our most important strategic partner and one of our closest international friends and alliances," he said. "At the same time, it's clear that we're going through a period of political tension and relational tension." Andrews believes much of the tension has come as a result of Trump's tariffs, which he announced in April, along with "heavy-handedness" of the US government. But he said while the relationship is "challenging" at the moment, diplomacy and international relations are constantly evolving. "There is an ongoing, persistent rebalancing of that relationship to understand what is being asked of us and therefore how much we are willing to accept as well," he said. "I think that the prime minister has been very clear that [in] putting a very public sense of boundary or limit on what we will do and how far we'll go and the implications for the relationship." Could the US change tariffs on Australia? At the time of writing, Australia has not received a tariff increase, meaning most of its exports to the US remain subject to the baseline 10 per cent, while there is a 50 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium exports. The government would continue to try to negotiate a total exemption from US tariffs, Albanese said, even though no country in the world had done so. Andrews said the "status quo" of the 10 per cent tariff is likely Australia's "best case scenario", and pointed out that no other trading partners had been unable to negotiate an exemption. "Obviously, it would be great if we could get some sort of exemption on the steel and aluminium tariff, for example, but I don't see any evidence that's likely to change," he said. "It's a dispositional change in the way the United States views the international economic order, and we can't convince them otherwise. "It would be wildly optimistic to think that we could make any, I think, improvement on our situation." While a tariff reduction or exemption may be unlikely, some have questioned whether the US government could raise tariffs on Australia in retaliation to Albanese's meeting with Xi. Nedopil said it's difficult to predict the actions of the Trump administration. "In a way, the US policymaking at this time seems to be very news-driven and so very short-term sentiment-driven," he said. "So what President Trump might consider as disrespect can lead to a short-term decision announcement that might be more negative." The relationship between China and the US is complex, with the two considered economic and strategic competitors. Nedopil said he believes the rivalry has become "much more intense" on a number of fronts, which he says is "undermining US dominance", which Trump may take into consideration. "And I think the other shift that has taken place ... is that actually a lot of Asian countries and emerging economies are not viewing China as negatively as they used to. "I think there are dynamics that make the US seem not as strong and potentially [not] feel as strong and therefore also trying to hold onto power with a number of different means." Additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
News.com.au
08-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Anthony Albanese confirms meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during China trip
Anthony Albanese has stressed the importance of Australia's $325bn trade relationship with China ahead of his six day visit to Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, with the Prime Minister to meet with Chinese Communist Party President Xi Jingping and other senior officials. The centrepiece of the trip will be the Australia-China Annual Leaders' Meeting in Beijing which he will attend alongside Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and where he will also meet Mr Xi and Chairman of the National People's Congress, Zhao Leji – the third highest ranking person of the CCP. Discussions will be focused on global and regional issues, plus bilateral co-operation on areas including trade and tourism. China accounts for nearly 26 per cent of Australia's total goods and service trade. China will also raise desires to open the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement to include AI, healthcare, green energy and the digital economy. Mr Albanese, who has faced criticism for failing to secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump before his face-to-face with Mr Xi, has defended the trip, saying he intended to 'continue to co-operate with China where we can' and 'disagree where we must, and engage in our national interest'. 'Trade is now flowing freely, to the benefit of both countries and to people and businesses on both sides,' Mr Albanese said. 'We will continue to patiently and deliberately work towards a stable relationship with China, with dialogue at its core. 'I will raise issues that are important to Australians and the region including my government's enduring commitment to pursuing Australia's national interest.' A 14-person business delegation will also accompany Mr Albanese at a Australia–China CEO Roundtable, which will be hosted by the Business Council of Australia and include leaders from industries representing banking, resources, tertiary education and food. This includes ANZ International's managing director Simon Ireland, BHP Australia president Geraldine Slattery, Fortescue Metals Group executive chairman Andrew Forrest, Rio Tinto chief executive Kellie Parker, SunRice chief executive Paul Serra and UNSW Vice-Chancellor and president Attila Brungs. BCA chief executive Bran Black said Australia's relationship with China was a 'partnership that matters deeply to our nation's success'. 'With one in four Australian jobs trade dependent, it's imperative that our businesses are part of the solution in identifying further opportunities with both new and existing partners,' he said. 'The Australia-China CEO Roundtable is a crucial forum for building an even stronger relationship with our largest economic partner, particularly in the resources, energy and services sectors.' Mr Albanese is also set to meet with business, tourism and sport leaders when he visits Shanghai and Chendgu, the latter which is home to the giant panda research base, which is where Adelaide Zoo acquired two new giant pandas, Xing Qiu and Yi Lan, in late 2024. This will be Mr Albanese's second visit to China.
