The Chinese government in Beijing does not get to decide whether Australian members of parliament can visit Taiwan or not, Australia’s former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned.
The comments come on the heels of a warning from China’s ambassador to several members of parliament that visited Taiwan on a bipartisan trip to promote cooperation between the countries this week.
Ambassador Xiao Qian said the visit promotes “separatism” in Taiwan, also warning that the move could undermine Australia-China relations.
Under their One China Policy, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has vowed to “reunify” Taiwan with the mainland, a move many experts fear could lead to war, especially considering United States’ President Joe Biden’s commitment to defending the island nation.
Morrison Prepping for Taiwan Visit
Mr. Morrison is also scheduled to deliver a speech in the capital city of Taipei next month.“I’m very much looking forward to visiting Taiwan and celebrating their many achievements as a successful representative democracy that has built a highly sophisticated and remarkable market-based economy, which plays such an important role, both in our region and globally,” Mr. Morrison told The Australian.
This week’s four-day bipartisan delegation to Taiwan included Labor MP Josh Wilson and Coalition frontbencher Paul Fletcher.
“I look forward to strengthening Taiwan and Australia’s trade cooperation and working together toward regional peace and stability,” Mr. Fletcher wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen welcomed the delegation and said in a speech that Australia continues to play an important role in upholding peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
She pointed to Australia’s participation in the trilateral security partnership AUKUS between the United Kingdom and the United States, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
“For Taiwan and Australia, safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific is a common goal. I am confident that, with the support of our guests, our countries will engage in even more successful collaboration,” said Ms. Ing-Wen.
“As a result of our joint efforts, Taiwan is now Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner and fourth-largest export market. Australia is Taiwan’s largest energy provider and a major source of agricultural goods. We very much look forward to Taiwan and Australia continuing to bolster economic cooperation.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State says the U.S. is “firmly committed to maintaining its edge by investing in U.S. technology and scientific innovations without supporting the (People’s’ Republic of China) PRC’s malign activities.”
“We will work together with democratic allies globally to develop a common agenda to push back against the PRC’s abusive and coercive economic practices in the trade space, in the technology space, and in regards to human rights.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be the first Australian leader to visit China since 2016, when he is expected to make his way to Beijing later this year.
“The cooperation and engagement between our two countries is always improved when there is dialogue,” said Mr. Albanese during a recent visit with China’s deputy leader.
