Western Australia’s regional city of Albany has voted to sever ties with the northeastern Chinese city of Linyi. The decision was made by a majority vote of eight Albany councillors on September 10, with only one councillor voting against it. This move follows a review of Albany’s civic affiliations with five other cities and reflects a shift in the region’s attitude.
Councillor Thomas Brough, who initiated the motion, had previously attempted to end Albany’s sister-city relationship with China’s Shandong Province in July 2023. However, that vote was defeated 9-3. Brough expressed concerns about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) using the relationship to advance its influence in Australia and infiltrate local government.
Brough stated, “This [the CCP] is a government that suppresses its own people, particularly ethnic and religious minorities, and threatens the democracy of Taiwan.” He emphasized that democracy, human rights, and rule of law are non-negotiable values for Albany and Australia as a whole.
Albany Council’s policy guidelines require potential sister cities to share similar core values regarding democracy, human rights, and rule of law. Despite ending the sister-city relationship with Linyi, Brough clarified that this decision does not mean an end to trade or dialogue. He emphasized that it is about maintaining clarity in relationships while upholding fundamental values.
The agreement between Albany and Linyi was established after Linyi sent a delegation in May 2014 to explore export markets for wine and primary produce from Albany to China. However, there has been no meaningful engagement since then according to an assessment document obtained by The Epoch Times.
In addition to Albany’s decision, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong recently urged Australian businesses to focus less on China and more on Southeast Asia. Wong highlighted missed opportunities for Australian businesses in Southeast Asia due to their excessive focus on China and North Asia.
It is worth noting that The Epoch Times reached out for comments from relevant authorities but did not receive any response at the time of publication.
