News Story: China, Australia agree to increase police cooperation

BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Australian police Monday signed a protocol to strengthen cooperation in police work and combating trans-national crime.

An action plan to jointly crack down on economic crime was also signed, and the Australian Federal Police handed back 1.15 million yuan in illegally-obtained assets they had confiscated.

The assets were seized from two Chinese suspects, identified by their surnames Xue and Gu, who have been charged with illegally receiving public deposits.

China is currently working on an anti-corruption campaign which targets both high-ranking "tigers" and lowly "flies."

Read the full story at Xinhua

AUS: 20th Annual Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue

Defence welcomed senior officials from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to Canberra today as part of the 20th annual Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue.

The Australia-China Defence Strategic Dialogue is a key part of regular bilateral engagement activities which bring together senior leaders from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the PLA to discuss a range of regional security issues, including maritime security.

The Dialogue has been an annual activity between Australia and China since 1997.

Vice Chief of the Defence Force, VADM Ray Griggs, and Deputy Secretary Strategic Policy and Intelligence, Ms Rebecca Skinner, co-chaired this year’s discussions with the Chinese delegation, which was led by Major General Shao Yuanming, Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission.

AUS: Defence Hosts Senior Chinese Military Delegation

This week Defence hosted General Wei Liang, Political Commissar, Southern Theatre Command from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on a recent goodwill visit to Australia.

The visit, which occurred on 15–19 July, included discussions with senior Defence officials, including the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mark Binskin, AC. The delegation also visited Victoria Barracks and HMAS Watson in Sydney.

The meetings between senior Defence officials and General Wei Liang provided an opportunity to exchange views on regional issues and Australia-China defence engagement.

“It is important for Australia and China to maintain a positive defence relationship,” Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.

“I had a meaningful discussion with General Wei and welcomed the opportunity to reinforce the relationship between Australia and China.”

The Goodwill delegation’s visit provides an opportunity to strengthen people-to-people links and foster transparency between the Australian Defence Force and China’s People’s Liberation Army.

AUS DoD

News Story: Australia accused of spying on China - Chinese media

A Chinese state-run newspaper accused Australia of spying on China and stealing its technology on Thursday, weeks after Beijing rejected allegations of interference in Australian politics.

An employee of China's national security department told the Global Times that Australian intelligence agents "in disguise" collect information from Chinese people overseas or "even encourage them to subvert China".

Agents also closely monitor Chinese people and the embassy in Australia to foil "Chinese spy threats", according to the article published on the newspaper's front page.

"In global covert struggles, Australia had never played the role of victim," the unidentified staffer was quoted as saying.

"However, they are wantonly working on intelligence about China and groundlessly accusing China of spying on them. The logic is ridiculous."

The Australian government did not immediately respond to the allegations.

The article follows an Australian media report this month that Australia's intelligence agencies had major concerns China was interfering in Australian institutions and using political donations to gain access.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: China and Australia's partnership of prosperity sets global example

by Will Koulouris

SYDNEY, June 17 (Xinhua) -- China and Australia have long enjoyed a solid economic partnership built on ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes, and a development of strong interpersonal and cultural links between both nations.

Refuting biased reports on China by some Australian media, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye told a packed forum in Canberra this week that "those people are not willing to see the continued growth of the friendly cooperation between the two countries and two peoples," and furthermore that some Australian media are trying to "instigate China panic."

Despite differences, the relationship between China and Australia is developing faster than at any time in recent history, with a new report entitled "Partners in prosperity: The benefits of Chinese investment in Australia" released on Thursday by Deloitte Access Economics highlighting the positivity and primacy of the burgeoning partnership between Australia and China now, and into the future.

Without any shadow of a doubt, Chinese investment is critical to the ongoing financial success of Australia, and the report itself highlighted a number of relevant case studies that demonstrated not only the importance of the collaborative partnership between the two nations, but also the unique way in which Chinese investment allows for the autonomy of the existing operations following the capital injections made.

This autonomy comes in the form of maintaining Australian management and Australian workforces, resulting in outcomes that are geared towards maximizing the potential of the partnership, without infringing upon the inalienable rights of the Australian side.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Story Quote: "Free and open trade should not be affected by fallacious and damaging narratives delivered by those who seek to undermine the strong and beneficial partnership between China and Australia."

PacificSentinel: The problem with the Chinese is that they only see things in Trade/Economic terms, to my knowledge no one has said that Trade needs to stop, the concern is undue influence on Australian Politics through donations to political parties and National Security via Espionage, Spying, and so on, these are very different topics to Trade.

News Report: Australian Media Accused of Stoking ‘China Panic’

Phil Mercer

SYDNEY — The Australian Broadcasting Corp. has alleged that two Chinese businessmen, who donated money to three of Australia’s major political parties, have links to the Chinese Communist party. The ABC documentary aired earlier this month and claimed to undercover how China’s Communist Party was “secretly infiltrating Australia”.

The program said Australia’s main intelligence agency had warned “that espionage and foreign interference are occurring here on an unprecedented scale, with the potential to cause serious harm to this nation’s sovereignty, it’s security and … our political system.”

The story prompted other reports into suspected ties between Australian politicians and financial donors from China.

AUS: 25th Task Group of the People's Liberation Army – Navy visits Sydney

The 25th Task Group of the People's Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-Navy) are conducting a port visit to Sydney on 8-11 June. The Task Group is on return from a counter-piracy deployment in the Gulf of Aden.

The Task Group consisting of two guided missile frigates, Hengyang and Yulin, and one replenishment ship, Honghu, were led into Sydney Harbour by HMAS Melbourne following exercises off the New South Wales coast. These exercises included ship manoeuvres, communications and boat drill exercises.

Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, said the two navies undertake a regular program of reciprocal ship visits as part of an ongoing international engagement.

News Story: China concerns spark Australia spy law review

Australia has ordered an inquiry into espionage laws and foreign government interference amid growing concerns about Chinese influence in the country's politics, it emerged Tuesday.

The move follows an investigation that discovered the nation's spy agency had warned the country's political elite two years ago about taking donations from two billionaires with links to the Chinese Communist Party.

The probe, by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Fairfax Media, said that despite being cautioned both the Liberals and Labor continued accepting substantial sums of cash.

Their investigation showed that property developers Huang Xiangmo and Chau Chak Wing, or their associates, had donated around AUS$6.7 million ($5 million) to political parties over a decade.

Chau is an Australian citizen while Huang's citizenship application has been stalled by Australia's spy chiefs, ABC said. Both reportedly have connections to the ruling Communist Party.

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: US senator calls for joint exercises to challenge 'bully' China

Sen. John McCain
(Image: Wiki Commons)

By Patricia Lourdes Viray

MANILA, Philippines — An American senator suggested that United States-led multilateral exercises could be a good way to push back against Beijing's excessive claims in the disputed South China Sea.

"If the Chinese are able to prevent us from exercising freedom of navigation then I think that has a profound consequences for the entire region," Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) said in a speech in Sydney.

McCain, chair of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, stressed that China's vast territorial claims have no basis in international law.

"The challenge is that as China has grown wealthier and stronger, it seems to be acting more and more like a bully," McCain said.

McCain's remarks in Australia comes days before delegates from the US and China are scheduled to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue or the 16th Asia Security Summit in Singapore.

The US senator noted that Australia has become entangled in a strategic competition between America and China.

The senator, however, did not directly urge Australia to take part in freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Chinese Government Appears Bewildered at Australian Accusations of Spying

The Chinese government has said that it had no idea about the Australian Defense Minister's emphatic comments that China was carrying out espionage on Australian soil.

Australian Secretary of Defense Dennis Richardson made the allegation on Friday, May 12, that China is spying on and using "unreasonable" influence on Chinese communities and media in Australia.

"It is no secret that China is very active in intelligence activities directed against us — and it is more than cyber," Mr. Richardson said during a farewell speech to the National Press Club of Australia.

Mr. Richardson is soon to depart from his post as secretary of defense.

"That is no reason to engage in knee jerk anti-China decision making, or to avoid seeking to build a stronger relationship with China. It is simply the world in which we live. The Chinese government keeps a watchful eye inside Australian Chinese communities and effectively controls some Chinese language media in Australia."

News Story: China, Australia pledge to further deepen bilateral relations

SYDNEY, April 22 (Xinhua) -- China and Australia have pledged here to further deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.

While meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Friday, Meng Jianzhu, head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that China and Australia have scored great achievements in developing bilateral ties, with leaders of the two countries exchanging successful visits and reaching important consensus on developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides.

As two major countries in the Asia-Pacific, China and Australia have common interests in many aspects and the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries are promising, Meng said.

Meng said as bilateral economic and trade ties are growing stronger and personnel exchanges between the two sides become more frequent, it is necessary for the two countries to establish a high-level security dialogue mechanism so as to lift the level of bilateral security cooperation.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Chinese premier's upcoming visit to boost China-Australia ties

BEIJING, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's five-day official visit to Australia starting Wednesday is expected to boost the development of China-Australia relations and cooperation, and push forward free trade and regional integration.

It will be his first visit to the Oceanic state in the southern hemisphere in his capacity as Chinese premier. After that, he will visit New Zealand.

TO ALIGN DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

Li is expected to seek cooperation spaces for common growth with Australia, in accordance with China's updated economic outlook and blueprint from the just concluded "two sessions" -- the annual gatherings of National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

With an extensive common ground and huge potential in cooperation, Australia has been an important economic and trade partner of China. Meanwhile, China has for years ranked top among Australia's trade partners, as its largest exports market and source of imports and investment.

The two sides have seen deepening economic and trade ties as a result of a free trade deal since December 2015.

Liu Qing, head of the Asia-Pacific department at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), believes the Chinese premier's visit will bring more opportunities to China-Australia cooperation.

"The two countries have highly complementary economies and development strategies," he said, expecting to see an alignment between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Australia's ambitious development plan for its north.

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said recently that Australian businesses have a keen interest in and want to be part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Australia could be caught in U.S. trade war with China - expert

SYDNEY, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The looming prospect of a trade war between the United States and China, has a leading Australian expert concerned about the impact on Australia, especially as both nations are the country's most major trading partners.

James Laurenceson, deputy director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI), told Xinhua on Wednesday, Trump's behavior towards China is increasingly volatile and erratic, and could lead to a trade war between the two nations.

"The difference between Trump's pre-election rhetoric and the policy decisions since taking office have narrowed, not widened," Laurenceson said.

"Most notably, the people he has surrounded himself with are extreme China hawks, particularly on the trade side."

The primary concern with the Trump administration has always been whether his subordinates were acting on his behalf to further his real policy motives, or whether their actions are being guided as a means of negotiating a stronger position from which to negotiate with China on trade.

Laurenceson was adamant that Trump's comments about Taiwan and currency valuations, prove he is trying to use any means necessary to bargain, but there needs to be real concern that he may attempt to follow through with his controversial words.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Chinese, Australian FMs call for strengthening of bilateral ties

CANBERRA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of China and Australia called for further strengthening of bilateral ties here on Tuesday.

At the two countries' fourth round of diplomatic and strategic dialogue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said relations between China and Australia have maintained healthy development, adding that the free trade agreement between the two sides has yielded good results.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia, Wang said, calling on the two sides to take this opportunity to review past experience and plan for the future.

He urged the two sides to expand cooperation, add new content to bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual trust and mutual benefit.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Chinese FM calls for expediting RCEP talks

CANBERRA, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called for expediting the talks of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) for the construction of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).

China is open to any regional trade arrangement conducive to regional economic integration and global free trade system, Wang told a press conference after the fourth round of China-Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue.

As for various regional or sub-regional cooperation mechanisms in the Asia-Pacific, some are thriving while others are faltering, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), he said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Chinese FM to visit Australia, New Zealand

BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is to pay an official visit to Australia and New Zealand from Feb. 7-10 at the invitation of his Australian and New Zealand counterparts Julie Bishop and Murray McCully.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the announcement in Beijing on Friday.

During his visit, Wang will co-host the fourth round of China-Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue with Bishop, hold talks with McCully, and meet leaders of the two countries, Lu said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: China, Australia must continue push in favor of globalization - expert

by Matt Walsh

MELBOURNE, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Leading free-trade nations such as China and Australia should continue to push for globalization in the face of "increasing protectionism," respected Australian economist Ross Garnaut told Xinhua of Friday.

As discontent with a globalizing world continues to spread through the world, Garnaut, a leading economist from the Australian National University (ANU), said lawmakers need to convince the "everyday citizen" of the benefits of globalization, or risk future free trade deals and global development.

"We are already in a period of increasing protectionism," which is "unambiguously bad for global development and the prosperity of each of the world's economies," he said.

"Protectionism anywhere hurts everyone. China's best response is to keep its own markets open and enjoy for itself as many of the benefits of open trade as it can.

"The main losers from protection are the countries which impose it."

Referring to the plans by United States President-elect Donald Trump to tear up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade deal once he assumes office, Garnaut said it was important for lawmakers in nations trying to take advantage of free trade to be frank and open about the benefits of globalization, as many middle class consumers are of the belief that a globalized world benefits only the rich, and not the "everyday citizen."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Australia-China relationship sign that globalization "irreversible trend" - experts

By Matt Goss

MELBOURNE, Dec. 8. (Xinhua) -- Despite of the rise of protectionism, globalization is an irreversible trend, experts said at the Boao Forum for Asia in Melbourne on Thursday.

Speaking at the conference, Zhang Dawei, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), said though globalization faced many challenges worldwide it would continue.

Zhang said the benefits of free trade could be displayed simply in the relationship between China and Australia.

He said that since China and Australia signed a free trade agreement (FTA) both countries have thrived from a growth in two-way trade of 16 billion U.S. dollars.

Australia's dairy and health supplement industries have thrived from the two nations' strong relationship, with both exhibiting a 70 percent growth in exports to China since the agreement was put in place, Zhang said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Australia-China economic ties seen as major part of trade, investment in region, beyond

by Alexis Hooi, Matt Burgess

SYDNEY, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Trade and investment are two pillars of China-Australia ties, which in turn support the development of an increasingly open economy so that the relationship continues to be mutually beneficial, Australian officials and analysts said.

"China and Australia are located in the most exciting, fast-growing part of the global economy. We work with China and other regional economies to support ongoing growth and development," Australian Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Steven Ciobo told Xinhua in response to email questions earlier this month.

Mechanisms such as the concept of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific(FTAAP), an instrument to further the regional economic integration agenda of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) free trade forum, can help create a "seamless trading environment and facilitate access for our exporters and suppliers to global value chains," the minister said.

These moves are in line with the goals of the just-concluded APEC summit held in Lima, Peru's capital, with the focus on further promoting free trade and globalization.

At the forum's 2016 summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the APEC economies to stay committed to taking economic globalization forward, increasing openness in the Asia-Pacific economy, breaking bottlenecks in regional connectivity and blazing new trails in reform and innovation.

On the building of an FTAAP, which was launched at the 2014 APEC meeting in Beijing, Xi hailed the smooth completion of the collective strategic study this year, saying it marked a new phase in FTAAP development.

Read the full story at Xinhua