General
Australia’s top diplomat urges China not to dictate to smaller nations amid bilateral tensions
Australia’s top diplomat has urged China not to dictate to smaller nations, saying Beijing cannot “set the terms” of its engagement with the world.
Key points:
- DFAT says Beijing has to expect “scrutiny and debate” as its power grows
- It comes at a delicate moment in the relationship between Australia and China
- Ties have been battered by disputes, including trade and human rights issues
The secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Frances Adamson, has used a speech to warn that Australia faced increasingly urgent threats, including pandemics, climate change and mounting strategic uncertainty.
Ms Adamson said China’s rapid rise had led to intensified competition between Washington and Beijing, creating an increasingly…
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