China’s penchant for exceptionally counterproductive diplomacy continues unabated.
In the latest glorious victory for Beijing’s so-called “wolf warrior” diplomats, Australia has flatly rejected four Chinese demands that came after a meeting between Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Indonesia last Friday. That meeting followed the recent election of a new Australian government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Following former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s tense relationship with the Communist superpower, Albanese had offered cautious words in favor of an improved dialogue with Xi Jinping’s regime. Australian exports to China have suffered major trade restrictions in recent years, as Beijing has punished Canberra for supporting U.S. efforts and resisting China’s territorial, economic, and espionage imperialism.
For some reason, China decided that the best way to win Albanese’s sympathy was to insult him. China used the Wong-Yi meeting not for efforts toward a fresh diplomatic start, but rather for the issuance of four demands for improved relations. The Global Times, propaganda mouthpiece of foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi, outlined the four points:
Let me translate that: First, ignore our espionage and threats to your security. Second, accept our complaints, but never, ever offer any of your own. Third, we do not accept that your concerns are legitimate — you are actually an American puppet. Fourth, spread pro-Chinese Communist propaganda so as to make Australians like us more.
The Global Times further complained about Australia’s restrictions on Huawei and accused Canberra of “provoking China on a series of issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan.”
Again, let us translate: Do not dare ban our signal intelligence spy agency from taking control of your 5G networks, and do not dare question our genocide of the Uyghurs, our treaty and human rights violations in Hong Kong, and our threats to annihilate the small island democracy of Taiwan.
The newspaper concluded by asking Australia to “cherish this goodwill and meet China halfway.” Translation: Bow before us and offer homage to the divine throne of Xi.
To his credit, Albanese threw these demands into the political trash can. He explained that Australia “doesn’t respond to demands. We respond to our own national interest.” Albanese’s unapologetic stance was quickly vindicated when the Chinese Foreign Ministry rudely insisted that Canberra “reshape a correct perception of China.”
This saga illustrates that Communist China is an increasingly ambitious and aggressive imperial superpower. Its leaders have no humility and believe themselves above any serious attention to honest diplomatic interchanges.
If he’s wondering about international resistance to his agenda, Xi Jinping might consider buying a mirror.
