Penny Wong has offered some cautionary advice to China’s top foreign affairs official, in a move likely to infuriate former Labor hero Paul Keating.
Australia’s foreign minister – billed as the country’s most popular politician – has drawn Mr Keating’s ire over her handling of Australia’s relationship with China.
Mr Keating has repeatedly criticized the Anthony Albanese government’s approach to China, saying Foreign Minister Wong had been co-opted to take a “insane pro-US stance”.
She met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, but the official also requested a meeting with Mr. Keating, scheduled for Thursday.
“Mr Keating is entitled to his opinions. He does not speak for the government or the country,” Senator Wong said in a statement to The Australian.
At the opening of the Australia-China Strategic and Foreign Dialogue, Ms Wong reiterated her promise to confront Chinese leaders on key issues.
She said she was “looking forward to speaking frankly about Australians detained in China, human rights, maritime security and regional and international issues”.
Penny Wong has given some cautionary advice to China’s top foreign affairs official, a move likely to infuriate former Labor hero Paul Keating.
She met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, but the official also requested a meeting with Mr. Keating, scheduled for Thursday.
Ms. Wong particularly discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, problems in the Pacific and the conflict in the Middle East.
“I stressed that it was in all of our interests to engage in preventative architecture to reduce the risk of conflict, and that communication should never be withheld as punishment or offered as reward,” he said. she declared.
“Dialogue allows us to manage our differences; we both know it doesn’t eliminate them. Australia will always be Australia and China will always be China.
Wong spoke of China’s “dangerous conduct” in the South China Sea and urged the nation to respect international law.
His contribution on this topic in the past has angered Mr Keating, who has emerged as a strong supporter of China and critic of the AUKUS deal.
At the ASEAN Summit, Ms Wong said: “We are facing destabilizing, provocative and coercive actions, including dangerous behavior at sea and in the air and the militarization of controversial areas.
“We know that military power expands, but measures to limit military conflict do not – and there are few concrete mechanisms to prevent it.
Wong spoke of China’s “dangerous conduct” in the South China Sea and urged the nation to respect international law.
Ms. Wong particularly discussed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, problems in the Pacific and the conflict in the Middle East.
A day later, Mr Keating reflected on his comments – which were widely praised – saying “it doesn’t take much to encourage Penny Wong, wearing her ‘deeply concerned’ frown, to shake China .”
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 met Ms Wong on Wednesday in Canberra, where they jointly held the China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue.
Ms Wong then gave a solo press conference, although she invited Mr Wang to join her.
The meeting was 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.
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’