Australian politicians have dismissed Beijing’s claims it is “playing with fire” and undermining efforts to repair Australia-China relations after a delegation of six bipartisan MPs arrived in Taiwan.
The Global Times, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), published an opinion article saying the visit will “cast a shadow” on Australia’s improving relationship with China and shows support for “Taiwan independence.”
The six backbenchers, including former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, Labor’s Meryl Swanson and Libby Coker, and the Coalition’s Scott Buchholz, Terry Young, and Gavin Pearce, arrived in Taiwan on Dec. 5.
They met Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-Chung for talks expected to cover Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), one of the world’s biggest trading blocs.
With support from Taiwan’s foreign ministry, the Australian delegation will also meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu during the itinerary.
‘We want to be Both Close to Mainland China and Taiwan’
Barnaby Joyce denied that the trip was ill-timed and dismissed the MPs were there to “antagonize” Beijing.“I don’t think there is anything at all. I don’t think people could read it any other way unless they chose to. Then it becomes a question for them,” Joyce said.
Opposition senator Simon Birmingham said the visit was simply “business as usual.”
“These sorts of delegation visits are not at all uncommon. This is really the resumption of normal practice following the shutdown during the Covid period,” he told ABC Radio.
“It is essential to understand better Australia’s relations, particularly in this case economic ties, with an economy like Taiwan.”
Birmingham also dismissed The Global Times saying it was not known for its moderate commentary.
Taiwanese Scholar Calls on Australia to Stick to Values
Dr. David Yeau-Tarn Lee, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies of National Chengchi University in Taiwan, welcomed the visit of the Australian delegation.“The visit of Australian MPs to Taiwan represents the solid, diversified, and mutually beneficial partnership between Australia and Taiwan, which are both liberal and democratic countries,” Lee told The Epoch Times on Dec.5. “This relationship is a necessary interaction within the framework of the global Alliance of liberal democracies that the United States has initiated.”
“The MPs came to Taiwan to discuss trade, agriculture, indigenous peoples, and national defence and security. They did not violate the ‘One-China’ policy advocated by the U.S. government, nor did they undermine the status quo across the Taiwan Strait.”
Lee said that the CCP, which itself establishes diplomatic relations with both North and South Korea, has no ground to accuse democratic countries’ lawmakers of visiting Taiwan.
“[The Global Times’ editorial] demonstrates the CCP’s ambition to nibble away and annex Taiwan. Free and democratic countries cannot easily let the CCP have its way.”
The professor called on the Australian lawmakers to insist on their decision to visit Taiwan.
“As the most important country in the South Pacific, the Australian government is expected to firmly defend and adhere to its basic principles,” he said.
Prime Minister Plays Down the Visit
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has played down the importance of the visit.“This isn’t a government visit,“ he told reporters on Dec. 3. ”There remains a bipartisan position when it comes to China and when it comes to support for the status quo on Taiwan.”
Asked about the purpose of the trip, Albanese replied: “I have no idea. I’m not going. You should ask them.”
However, the Global Times criticised Albanese for failing to stop the visit and playing “a game of words” only.
Australia only maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy of 23 million people that has long been regarded as a renegade province by the CCP.
