Julie Bishop stands firm in diplomatic spat with China

‘‘Australia should never be afraid to stand by our values and our views.’’ -- Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop

By Philip Wen 

'We stand by our view': Julie Bishop in Beijing.
Beijing -- Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has held firm in the face of an unconventionally strong protest from Beijing over the federal government’s position on China’s newly-declared air defence zone in the East China Sea, insisting Australia ‘‘should never be afraid to stand by our values and our views’’.
In another flashpoint in the simmering diplomatic spat between the two countries, the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi sidestepped convention by launching into a stern rebuke of Ms Bishop in front of international and Chinese media before a formal closed-door meeting on Friday.
‘‘I have to point out that what Australia has said and done with regard to China’s establishment of the air defence identification zone in the East China Sea has jeopardised bilateral mutual trust and affected the sound growth of bilateral relations,’’ Mr Wang said, in introductory comments usually reserved for polite exchanges of pleasantries. 

‘‘This is not what we desire to see.’’
While appearing surprised by the unusually direct and public nature of Mr Wang’s comments, Ms Bishop responded firmly.
‘‘I must take issue with you on the matter of the East China Sea. We stand by our view,’’ she said, before reporters were ushered out of the room.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Ms Bishop rejected suggestions that foreign policy was not a strong suit of the Abbott government, with relations with Jakarta also strained over a spying scandal.
She said the government held a ‘‘credible’’ position with respect to China’s air defence zone which was motivated by the importance with which it viewed peace and stability in the region.
‘‘Australia has its own national interest, its view, its position, and we should never be afraid to stand by our values and our views,’’ Ms Bishop said.
She denied the disagreement over the East China Sea had overshadowed the first annual foreign and strategic dialogue between the two countries, pointing out a wide range of issues were canvassed in a ‘‘robust’’ discussion that lasted nearly four hours, deep into Friday night.
Beyond the East China Sea, tensions in North Korea and Syria, the economic and investment relationship between Australia and China, as well as the New Colombo plan which will help boost the numbers of Australian undergraduate students studying in China, were all discussed, she said.
Ms Bishop said she also raised ‘‘specific instances’’ of human rights concerns and Australian consular matters, without providing details. 

Among the publicly-known Australians to be jailed in China include former Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu and entrepreneurs Matthew Ng and Charlotte Chou, who is awaiting the result of an appeal.
She said Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao expressed a desire to conclude a free trade agreement ‘‘in the very near future’’, in a separate meeting earlier on Friday.
The foreign and strategic dialogue is part of the newly-expanded bilateral strategic architecture set up by the former Gillard government in April.
China’s move to establish the air defence zone in the East China Sea last month is seen as a strategic move to bolster its claim over a group of Japanese islands – known as Senkaku.
China has threatened to use military force to enforce the zone, contributing to heightened tensions in the region, with the United States, Japan and Korea ignoring China’s demands and continuing to fly military aircraft through the zone without notification.
An escalating series of diplomatic gestures between Canberra and Beijing have strained relations since last week after Australia took the rare step of calling in China’s ambassador to demand an explanation.

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Tony Abbott refuses to back down over China comments

"We are a strong ally of Japan, we have a very strong view that international disputes should be settled peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law..." -- Tony Abbott 

By Mark Kenny, Philip Wen

PM Tony Abbott

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop: "Australia opposes action by any side that we believe could add to the tensions or add to the risk of a miscalculation in disputed territorial zones in the region."

Tony Abbott has refused to take a backward step in a deepening diplomatic spat with Beijing, declaring "China trades with us because it is in China's interest to trade with us".
The unapologetic comments came after Beijing issued an arrogant warning to Canberra to "correct" its public statements which were seen as siding with Japan over disputed territory in the East China Sea.
An escalating series of diplomatic gestures by both sides have strained relations this week after Australia called in China's ambassador on Monday.
Canberra demanded an explanation from China for its unilateral decision to declare an expanded air defence zone over disputed waters and islands claimed by both Japan and China.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop defended the government's position on Thursday, arguing Australia has a key stake in the region and therefore opposes "action by any side that we believe could add to the tensions or add to the risk of a miscalculation in disputed territorial zones in the region".
Later in the day, Mr Abbott went further, stressing strategic ties.
"We are a strong ally of the United States, we are a strong ally of Japan, we have a very strong view that international disputes should be settled peacefully and in accordance with the rule of law and where we think that is not happening, or it is not happening appropriately, we will speak our mind," he said.
Beijing announced the expansion at the weekend, along with the instruction that civil aircraft would be required to lodge flight paths and seek permission before traversing the newly declared air defence identification zone.
The highly provocative act brought an immediate response from the US, which dispatched as many as four military aircraft, including two B52 long range bombers, to fly through the zone as a way of demonstrating that the Chinese annexure would be ignored.
With Australia's ambassador to Beijing, Frances Adamson, away on leave, China hauled in Justin Hayhurst, the deputy head of mission at Australia's Beijing embassy, to remonstrate.
Beijing also issued a series of statements complaining that Australia had taken sides and that it should act quickly to "correct" its position, if it wanted the relationship with China to remain healthy.
The new air defence zone came just days after Ms Bishop signed a joint communique with the US at the annual Australia-US ministerial consultations in Washington opposing “unilateral or coercive change in the status quo” in the East China Sea. 

It also follows a tri-lateral agreement signed with the US and Japan in Bali last month.
“It's certainly a slap in the face for the diplomatic position that Australia, the US and Japan have been taking on this issue,” Rory Medcalf, the director of the international security program at the Lowy Institute, said.

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China, Australia spat over Air Defence Identification Zone highlights 'troubled relations' in region

China's decision to establish an ADIZ is unhelpful, disturbing and cannot be ignored.

By Catherine McGrath
Japanese Maritime Defence Force Murasame Class destroyer JMSDF Murasame (left) and US Navy Arleigh Burke Class destroyer USS Preble sail in company with HMAS Sydney as the three warships participate in officer of the watch manoeuvres in the Pacific Ocean during the lead-up to Exercise Pacific Bond 2013

There is no doubting this is an important week in the rocky history of relations in north Asia and tensions over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
The turning point came last week when China announced it was establishing an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), with Japan and the United States quick to react.
Then came Australia. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called in the Chinese Ambassador for a dressing down and Beijing responded by calling Australia's behaviour irresponsible and mistaken.
Australia's language on China is getting tougher under this Government but arguably so are the strategic circumstances it is dealing with.
From Australia's perspective, China's decision to establish an ADIZ is unhelpful, disturbing and cannot be ignored.

The spat comes at a crucial time because tensions in the East China Sea are as high as any moment in the post-cold war era.
"China is not pleased," Professor Jingdong Yuan, a pro-China activist from the University of Sydney, said.
Professor Yuan believes Australia's decision to call in the Chinese Ambassador was a step too far and that by taking this position Australia can no longer be seen as impartial.
But as far as Australia is concerned China should understand that the timing of its decision is going to be questioned.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings believes Australia had to say something.
"The application of the ADIZ has not been helpful and is a diplomatic misstep on the part of Chinese," he said. 

"They should not be surprised that countries like Japan, US and Australia have made comments that they are going too far.
"It doesn't mean Australia is taking sides.
"Saying nothing would not be conducive to managing a set of troubled relations in the region," Mr Jennings said.
"The move by China was unhelpful and came at the wrong time. It has created a new tension which no one needs right now. Lower key strategies would have been more useful to adopt at this time." 

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop talked of the need to invigorate the Australian-Japan relationship

China watching Australia's relationship with 'closest friend' Japan
China is also concerned about Australia's growing closeness to Japan under the leadership of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
While Labor was in power, relations with Japan took a back seat to a focus on growing ties with China, even though Japan and Australia share a very close strategic and defence relationship.
The Abbott Government has made it clear it wants to strengthen ties with Japan it believes have been left behind in recent years.
It is a delicate repositioning because of existing regional tensions and the Abbott Government emphasises the move will no be at the expense of China.
At the East Asia Summit meeting in Brunei in October, Mr Abbott, after his meeting with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, described Japan as Australia's "closest friend in Asia".
Immediately China started to take notice.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop is due shortly to travel to China. 

She has already been to Tokyo.
In a Canberra speech in early November, Ms Bishop talked of the need to invigorate the Australian-Japan relationship but emphasized that would not take anything from the relationship with China.
"The relationship with Japan has not had sufficient recognition in recent years as much of the rest of the world shifted focus to China and the extraordinary size and speed of its growth," Ms Bishop said.
"Of course China's rise must be and will be embraced; it is in every nation's interest for China to become even more than it is today.
"However, Australia's friendship with a rising China does not come at the expense of close and longstanding friendships."
There is nothing in these statements for China to complain about, but it is watching Australia to see how this develops.
Australia meantime hopes China understands reinvigorating ties with Japan should not be seen as threatening.

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Australia expresses concern over China air defence zone

By Karen Barlow

A Japan Coast Guard boat and vessel sail past Uotsuri Island, one of the Senkaku islands. 

China's ambassador to Australia has been called in to explain the Chinese Government's latest military move in the East China Sea.
Beijing has claimed the right to take military action against aircraft that enter its newly-declared air defence identification zone.
The area covers most of the East China Sea and the skies over a group of Japanese islands claimed by Beijing.
China says foreign aircraft must report a flight plan and respond to Chinese inquiries or it will take "defensive measures."
Australia's Foreign minister Julie Bishop says the timing and the manner of China's announcement are unhelpful and won't contribute to regional stability.
"Australia has made clear its opposition to any coercive or unilateral actions to change the status quo in the East China Sea," Ms Bishop said in a statement.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade called in Chinese Ambassador Ma Zhaoxu on Monday to explain Beijing's intentions and hear the Australian Government's concerns.

War of words
Japan has protested China's move, warning of an escalation into the "unexpected" if Beijing enforced the rules.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel says the measures are a "destabilizing attempt to alter the status quo in the region".
Washington does not take a position on the sovereignty of the Senkaku islands. But it recognises that Japan has administrative control over them and is bound by treaty to defend Japan in the event of an armed conflict.
Sino-Japanese relations have been strained for months because of the dispute over the tiny islands in the East China Sea.
China's Defence Ministry said on Monday it had lodged protests with the US and Japanese embassies in Beijing over the criticism from Washington and Tokyo of the zone.
It also summoned Japan's ambassador, warning Tokyo to "stop (their) words and actions which create friction and harm regional stability", China's Foreign Ministry said.
Meanwhile, Tokyo and Seoul summoned Chinese diplomats to protest.
Asian and Western diplomats say the zone is a problem for Japan, the United States and other countries that may be wary of any acknowledgement of China's claims over the area.

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New Australian government upholds ban on China's Huawei

SYDNEY (Reuters) -- Australia's newly elected conservative government is upholding a ban on China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from bidding for work on the country's $38 billion National Broadband Network (NBN), the attorney-general said on Tuesday.

The former Labor government cited cyber-security concerns when it banned Huawei, the world's largest supplier of telecom network equipment by revenue, from bidding for contracts on the infrastructure rollout last year.
Some senior officials in the new Liberal-led Coalition government, including Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, had supported a review of the ban, raising expectations it would be scrapped.
But Attorney-General George Brandis said the government had decided not to change the policy, citing new briefings from Australia's national security agencies.
"Since the election the new government has had further briefings from the national security agencies. No decision has been made by the new government to change the existing policy," Brandis said in an email to Reuters.
"The decision of the previous government not to permit Huawei to tender for the NBN was made on advice from the national security agencies. That decision was supported by the then opposition after we received our own briefings from those agencies," he said.
The government would not comment on advice from the national security agencies, he added.
China, a major trading partner in the midst of negotiations on a free-trade agreement with Australia, expressed concern.
"We... consistently oppose using national security concerns as a pretext to interfere with the two countries' normal economic cooperation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing in Beijing.
The move could please Australia's traditional ally, the United States, where lawmakers have warned against awarding Huawei major contracts over spying fears.
The U.S. House Intelligence Committee last year described Huawei as a national security threat and urged American firms to stop doing business with the Shenzhen-based company. 

The British government said in July that checks on Huawei's role in British telecommunications infrastructure had been "insufficiently robust" in the past, and announced a review of security at a cyber centre the company runs in southern England.
Huawei spokesman Jeremy Mitchell said the company believed the Australian government was still reviewing its policy.
"Huawei's understanding is that no decision has been made regarding the NBN and that the review is ongoing," Mitchell said in an emailed response after Brandis released his statement.
Huawei has become a significant market force in Australia. 

It supplies equipment to Singapore Telecom's local unit Optus as well as Vodafone, and has conducted trials with Australia's biggest telecom company, Telstra Corp Ltd. 

It also employed former senior Liberal Party officials as part of its lobbying effort to overturn Australia's ban.
The company, founded in 1987 by former People's Liberation Army officer Ren Zhengfei, last year proposed building a cyber security evaluation centre in Australia.

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