Thread by @JackNorton8064

China's new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, is about to give his first @PressClubAust address. There are *just a few* issues to cover in Australia-China relations so I'll tweet through them once he starts in about 10 minutes @ASPI_org

The ambassador has kicked off on a positive note, speaking of the hospitality and friendship he has received since starting in the role while flagging the growth in the trade relationship since diplomatic relations were established 50 years ago

He says the relationship has been 'caught in a difficult situation due to reasons known to all' (without spelling those out).

He says progress has been strong since the election of the Albanese government, flags the restarting of ministerial contact. Xiao indicates China expects some movement (on policy?) from Australia. 'Both sides' must make further efforts to repair relations #npc

One of Xi Jinping's favourite lines #npc

https://twitter.com/Paul_Karp/status/1557196204710465536

As might have been expected there's a strong focus on the trade relationship and its 'win-win' aspects. Xiao says that despite differences there are no areas in which Australia and China have 'fundamental conflicts of interest'. To say this is up for debate is an understatement

Xiao calls for Australia to 'independently' play its role in international affairs, says it could further 'promote exchanges and
cooperation between east and west'. This will likely be as close as the speech gets to a direct mention of US-Australia relations #npc

He lays a large portion of the blame for the deterioration in relations at the foot of Australian media, saying its coverage is mostly negative and 'harming the friendship between our two peoples' #npc

Onto Taiwan, Xiao unsurprisingly lays all the blame for recent tensions on Pelosi and the US. He says the US is attempting to change the status quo (something it denies) and that China has been 'compelled' to respond

Xiao reads the text of Australia's 'one China' policy to the audience. Wilfully or not, he seems to mistinterpret Australia's acknowledgment of China's claim to Taiwan as an acceptance of that claim #npc

Worth asking the question #npc

https://twitter.com/fryan/status/1557161197249605632

Xiao says there's 'no room for compromise' on Taiwan. 'It's an issue relating to sovereignty and territorial integrity'. He says if all countries abided by the CCP's 'one China' princicple there would be no issues (meaning the end of Taiwan as a democracy) #npc

Xiao says China's economic measures against Australian imports are not sanctions, that 'more positive' actions by Australia might see Chinese consumers return to Australian products. Unclear if this would be before or after the 200% tariff on wine is removed #npc

Regarding Australians held in China in circumstances best described as opaque:

https://twitter.com/Sophiemcneill/status/1557204052689428480

Asked about a possible invasion of Taiwan, Xiao rejects the use of the word. He says the audience can use its imagination when he says China is 'ready to take all necessary measure' to achieve 'reunification' #npc

Asked by @bennpackham about the Chinese ambassador to France's comments that Taiwanese people would need 're-education', Xiao says 'there might be process for the people in Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China about the motherland'. In a word, then, yes #npc

First time I've heard this: Xiao says China's claims in the South China Sea were 'inherited' and it has 'no room to deviate' from its claim. This raises more than a few other questions...

On the dangerous interception of an Australian aircraft over international waters (claimed by China)

https://twitter.com/Rory_Medcalf/status/1557206648296722432

Asked about Solomon Islands by @Kieran_Gilbert, the ambassador says there is 'no intention for China to set up a so-called military base'. He essentially says it's a non-issue and that China wants to move on, flagging possible co-operation with Australia in the Sols on climate

.@andrewtillett asks whether the 23 million people of Taiwan should decide their own future. Xiao responds that it will be decided by 1.4 billion Chinese people. He rejects any notion that Taiwanese people may not indeed want to be part of the PRC #npc

Important #npc moment here

https://twitter.com/KrishaniDhanji/status/1557204999880704006

On the 'no limits' partnership between China and Russia and the war in Ukraine, Xiao says China has good relations with both countries and there's 'no reason for us to support one against the other' 👀

The misrepresentation of Australia's 'one China' policy has been wheeled out a couple more times in the q&a. Once again, acknowledging China's claim to Taiwan does not mean acceptance of it #npc

https://twitter.com/JackNorton8064/status/1557200717386944513?s=20&t=BGwV3b8WzMNbMRZOUE38Gw

Hardly revelatory but the main initial takeaway is on Taiwan, and just how difficult it will be to avoid an attempt at 'reunification' when the CCP's views are so immovable and it regards Taiwan's government as separatists and its people as PRC subjects