Shadow Foreign Minister China policies”>Beijing
Video Accused of Promoting Aggression Towards Australia, Liberals Claim”>Simon Birmingham has expressed his satisfaction with the resumption of trade with Beijing, but also emphasized the importance of Australia standing firm on its democratic principles. Birmingham made these comments during an interview on ABC Radio National following the news that China had lifted its ban on live rock lobster exports from Australia.The decision to allow the export of live rock lobsters comes after a meeting between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Communist Party Premier Li Qiang during the ASEAN summit in Laos. This move marks an end to years of trade disputes that Birmingham believes should never have occurred.
Beijing had previously claimed to have found heavy metals inside Australian lobsters, a claim that was denied by the Australian government. The ban on live rock lobster exports was implemented as part of a series of coercive trade sanctions imposed by Beijing in response to Australia’s call for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
Veronica Papacosta, CEO of Seafood Industry Australia, highlighted the impact this ban had on fishermen, stating that some were forced to halt their trade due to financial difficulties and inflationary pressures.
While Birmingham acknowledged that resuming trade with China was positive, he stressed the need for Australia to uphold its principles in its relationship with Beijing. He recognized that there would always be differences in values between countries and emphasized the importance of responsible engagement from a global power like China.
Birmingham also called for a united front among nations such as the Philippines and Taiwan when dealing with Beijing. He criticized Albanese for being slow to address national security issues, citing an incident involving Australian naval officers who sustained minor ear injuries after being subjected to sonar pulses from a Chinese warship during a United Nations mission near Japan.
Birmingham emphasized consistency, clarity, and upfront addressing of security concerns in order to promote peace and stability in the region while ensuring respect from China.