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Paul Keating’s expected meeting with China’s top foreign affairs official has been branded an “insult” to Penny Wong.
The former Labor hero has repeatedly criticized the Anthony Albanese government’s approach to China and the United States, describing Foreign Minister Wong as having been co-opted to take a “pro-position”. “Insane American”.
And it was revealed this week that Wang Yi had arranged a meeting with Mr Keating during a diplomatic trip to Australia this week.
Speaking to Sky on Tuesday morning, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham raised questions about the optics of this meeting.
“Take a look at what Paul Keating has to say about Penny Wong and the Albanian government. And he was very, very critical of them,” Mr. Birmingham noted.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been the target of criticism from Paul Keating.
The former Labor hero has been open about his disappointment with the current Labor government, sparking rebukes from the country’s most senior elected officials.
He said that while the opposition “welcomes Wang Yi’s visit” and can recognize its importance, he considers the meeting with Mr Keating “landmark”.
“It is quite explicit and somewhat insulting to Penny Wong that the Chinese embassy requested this meeting with such a vocal critic of Penny Wong.”
Mr Wang is the most senior Chinese official to visit Australia in seven years, a further sign that tensions are easing between the two countries after contact was broken down during Covid.
He is scheduled to meet Senator Wong on Wednesday in Canberra, where they will jointly hold the China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue.
The meeting will be followed by a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Australian newspaper reported on Monday that Mr Keating would hold an “unofficial” meeting with Mr Wang, probably in Sydney on Thursday.
Mr Keating has been highly critical of the Federal Government’s AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and has taken aim at Ms Wong in personal terms.
“It doesn’t take much to encourage Penny Wong, wearing her ‘deeply concerned’ frown, to shake the can of China – a can she has shaken well,” Mr Keating said after the ASEAN summit earlier this month.
The comments prompted a swift response from Mr Albanese, who considers Ms Wong one of his closest confidantes.
“Penny Wong is someone who brings a lot of respect to Australia. She is someone diligent, she is someone engaging, she is someone who is present in all her files” , did he declare.
“Paul is responsible for what he says, he knows it. But as far as Penny Wong is concerned, I very clearly think he is wrong.
Mr Albanese attended Ms Wong’s wedding to long-term partner Sophie Allouache at Bird in Hand Winery in the Adelaide Hills on Saturday.
Mr Wang is the most senior Chinese official to visit Australia in seven years, a further sign that tensions are easing between the two countries after contact was broken down during Covid.
Simon Birmingham said Mr Wang’s meeting with Mr Keating was an ‘insult to Penny Wong’