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Trilateral trade agreement that could change Australian relations with China

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There’s a secret master plan brewing between India, Japan and Australia, which could mean bad news for Beijing and good news for Australian economy.

As the sands of the global geopolitical landscape continue to rapidly shift amid coronavirus and the subsequent economic crisis, fault lines in trade and diplomatic relationships have returned to the forefront once more.

For well over a decade, federal governments from both the major parties have insisted that Australia could continue to walk the fine line between its security relationship with the US and its strong trade ties with China.

But now, as Australia’s trade relationship with Beijing continues to deteriorate, Canberra is increasingly looking to reduce its heavy economic dependence on exports to China.

Recently it was announced that the Morrison government would be seeking veto powers of all public deals with foreign nations, including existing agreements made by state governments and universities.

It is expected that the Morrison government will likely use the new powers to terminate the Victorian state government’s participation in China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative.

This initiative is Beijing’s global infrastructure program designed to link China to the world and foster the spread of Chinese influence.

The Morrison government’s actions are likely to further agitate a Beijing that is already frustrated with Canberra’s increasing acts of defiance.

As tensions continue to flare across the Indo-Pacific, Australia is not the only nation looking for alternatives to help ensure the stability and security of vital supply chains.

It was recently revealed that India, Japan and Australia were moving toward a trilateral effort to ensure global supply chains and reduce their dependence on China, with the prospective pact to be called the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).

Informal talks between New Delhi and Tokyo have been ongoing for around a month, according to economists with knowledge of the ongoing dialogue.

Australia has not yet formally agreed to join the initiative, but talks are ongoing say sources in New Delhi and Tokyo.
STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS

With China consuming a record 48.8% of all Australian exports and the trade relationship between Beijing and Canberra becoming progressively more strained, it’s increasingly clear an alternative is required.

Beyond increasing trade between India, Japan and Australia, the initiative may have wider scope, according to Mark Goh, National University of Singapore Business School professor and director at the Logistics Institute-Asia Pacific.

“Japan has a manufacturing presence in India, traditionally through the automotive sector. While India sees this as an opportunity to enter Australia and Japan through their pharmaceuticals, and serve as a hub for Australian and Japanese products into the Middle East and Africa, which should temper China’s trading presence in that part of the world,” said Goh.

He went on to speculate that the initiative could eventually come to include the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

WASTING NO TIME

Unlike a garden variety trade agreement which can sometimes take over a decade to be put into place, the Japanese government is eager to bring this initiative to life as quickly as possible. With sources stating that Tokyo was in favour of launching the initiative as early as November.

Australia and India are also wasting no time, with Canberra and New Delhi coming to an agreement to work together to diversify their supply chains earlier this year.

As part of the Japanese government’s stimulus package to drive an economic recovery from the pandemic, $AUD3 billion has been set aside to incentivise Japanese companies to shift their production out of China.

Last month $AUD746 million in subsidies were offered to 57 companies to invest in production in Japan, with a further 30 companies offered subsidies to invest in operations in various South East Asian nations.

DEADLY CLASHES

In recent months, China’s increasingly aggressive posturing has resulted in multiple incidents across the region. In May and June, tensions between India and China boiled over into deadly clashes between their respective armed forces along the disputed border.

Meanwhile in the South China sea last week, Beijing engaged in the launch of missiles into the ocean, including what Chinese sources call an “aircraft-carrier killer” missile as a ‘warning to the United States’.

The incident is reminiscent of the missile tests and provocative missile launches undertaken by North Korea over the past few decades, rather than the normal displays of strength analysts have come to expect from Beijing.

THE ROAD AHEAD?

With the geopolitical landscape continuing to evolve with each passing day, Australia now finds itself at a crossroads that may help define its economy’s future.

On the road behind us, a problematic and heavy reliance on a single at times belligerent trade partner consuming almost half of all Australia’s exports.

On the road ahead, the opportunity to become a founding part of a pact that could potentially alter the global balance of economic power and begin to reduce Australia’s reliance on Beijing to drive its economy

AUSTRALIA’S UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Australia likes to remind the world its own importance, that our little corner of the South Pacific matters to global affairs. With the advent of this potential pact, it may get that chance.

Australia may have a unique opportunity in its midst to seize control of its destiny on a global stage, to become a founding part of something greater.

This in turn could drive the recovery of our economy and begin to reduce our dependence on Beijing once and for all.

Source : https://www.news.com.au/finance/eco...a/news-story/742fd80eef13fe3a68cae317e12297d7
 
Looks like relation between Australia and China is getting worse. Who will lose out more? Let's see.
 
Looks like relation between Australia and China is getting worse. Who will lose out more? Let's see.

Australia will lose out more in the short term. Lots of dependence in terms of selling meat, wine, real estate.
Long term China will lose if it continues its Wolf Diplomacy.
 
Last two Australian correspondents pulled out of China after five-day diplomatic standoff over national security case

The ABC and the Australian Financial Review have rushed their correspondents out of China after police demanded interviews with both journalists, resulting in an extraordinary diplomatic standoff.
ill Birtles, the ABC's correspondent based in Beijing, and Mike Smith, the AFR's correspondent based in Shanghai, boarded a flight to Sydney last night after the pair were questioned separately by China's Ministry of State security.

Birtles had spent four days sheltering in Australia's Embassy in Beijing, while Smith took refuge in Australia's Shanghai consulate as diplomats negotiated with Chinese officials to allow them to safely leave the country.

The saga began early last week, when Australian diplomats in Beijing cautioned Birtles that he should leave China, with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade giving the same advice to ABC's managing director David Anderson in Sydney.

Subsequent advice prompted the ABC to organise flights back to Australia for Birtles. He was due to depart last Thursday morning.

But the threatening behaviour from Chinese officials peaked before he could leave, when seven police officers arrived at Birtles' apartment at midnight last Wednesday as he was holding farewell drinks with friends and colleagues.

They told him he was banned from leaving the country, and that he would be contacted the next day to organise a time to be questioned over a "national security case".
Birtles called the Australian Embassy and arranged to be collected from his apartment. He stayed in the Beijing diplomatic compound for the next few days, where he was contacted by Chinese officials demanding an interview.

He initially refused to speak with them, citing fears for his personal safety.

Birtles was interviewed by Chinese authorities on Sunday, accompanied by Australia's ambassador to China Graham Fletcher, after an agreement was reached between Australian and Chinese officials that his travel ban would be lifted if he spoke to them.

During the meeting, no questions were asked about his reporting or conduct in China.
irtles was told by embassy officials after the interview that his travel ban had been rescinded. He was joined by consular staff on a flight from Beijing to Shanghai early on Monday, where he waited for his flight to Sydney.

AFR correspondent Smith was subjected to questioning on Monday evening, after sheltering in the Australian consulate in Shanghai. The AFR made similar arrangements to get him out of the country.

After touching down in Sydney, Birtles said the experience had been a "whirlwind".
"This was a whirlwind, and it's not a particularly good experience.

"It's just good to be home."

The drama came only days after China's Government publicly confirmed the arrest of an Australian journalist working for China’s state media, Cheng Lei.
Tense relationship between China and Australia

The unprecedented standoff marks another deterioration in the Australia-China relationship, already buffeted by tensions over trade, espionage, Hong Kong and the coronavirus pandemic.

In July, the Australian Government changed its travel advice for China, warning Australian citizens faced "arbitrary detention" on the mainland.

Mr Anderson has been in contact with DFAT and Foreign Minister Marise Payne's office since the initial warning was issued last week.

ABC News director Gaven Morris said Birtles was being brought home following advice from the Australian Government.
"This bureau is a vital part of the ABC's international newsgathering effort and we aim to get back there as soon as possible," Mr Morris said in a statement.
AFR editor-in-chief Michael Stutchbury and editor Paul Bailey issued a statement welcoming the duo's safe return.

"We are glad Mike Smith, our correspondent who has been based in Shanghai for two and a half years, and Bill Birtles from the ABC, have made a safe return to Australian this morning," they said.
"Thank you to the Department of Foreign Affair and Trade and Consular officials who assisted in their safe return."

Senator Payne said Australian diplomats had engaged with Chinese authorities as the standoff unfolded.
"The Australian Government has provided consular support to two Australian journalists in China to assist their return to Australia," she said in a statement

"Our embassy in Beijing and Consulate-General in Shanghai engaged with Chinese Government authorities to ensure their wellbeing and return to Australia."

The Foreign Minister said Australia's travel warnings for China remained unchanged.

"We encourage all Australians who are overseas, or are seeking to travel, to closely monitor Smartraveller.

"The Australian Government continues to provide consular support to Australian citizens detained in China, including Ms Cheng Lei."

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said the news was "very disturbing" .

"I would just make a point that it is regrettable that news organisations, including the ABC, have had to make this decision," she told ABC Radio Adelaide.

"The reports are deeply concerning, particularly some of the suggestions about what occurred prior to Mr Birtles leaving and Mr Smith leaving."
Move leaves no Australian media in China

The evacuation means for the first time since the mid-1970s there are no accredited Australian media journalists in China, with correspondent for The Australian Will Glasgow also out of the country.

China has not issued new visas for journalists from the ABC and Nine Newspapers.

The move against Birtles and Smith comes in the wake of a broader crackdown on Western journalists in China.
In March, Beijing expelled 14 American journalists working at the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post in retaliation for the Trump Administration's decision to restrict staff at Chinese state media outlets in the United States.

The ABC's Beijing bureau opened in 1973, shortly after Australia normalised relations with China under prime minister Gough Whitlam.

ABC correspondents have been witnesses to a variety of major international stories from the bureau, including the Tiananmen Square massacre, the 2008 Olympics, pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and the coronavirus outbreak.

Run-ins with Chinese authorities have been regular and frequent, with a number of correspondents being questioned by authorities while pursuing stories.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09...ed-china-amid-threats-against-safety/12638786
 
Dictator for life Winnie the Xi has gone mad. He is trying to bluster his way but China will suffer consequences in the long term.
 
Finally west has woken up to Chinese bullying and bluff. Started with Trump showing some spine against China.
 
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