Australia has swiftly turned down China’s offer to “join hands” against Donald Trump’s tariffs, as Washington escalates its trade war with Beijing.

The White House recently imposed an import tax of 10% on Australian goods, but for China - Australia’s biggest trading partner - raised tariffs to 125%.

China’s ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian argued joint resistance is “the only way” to stop the “hegemonic and bullying behaviour of the US”, appealing for Canberra’s cooperation in an opinion piece on Thursday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, however, said Australians would “speak for ourselves”, while the country’s defence minister said the nation would not be “holding China’s hand”.

  • QProphecy@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    That’s a mistake in my opinion. We should all join hands, as a united block against these bullies.

    • Suffa@lemmy.wtf
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      6 days ago

      Okay, let’s all join hands against China.

      China has been putting up to 200% tariff on Australian products and resources for decades now to punish us every time we do anything critical of them or that they don’t like. They are our biggest bullies, without a doubt.

      • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        It’s funny how black and white people think.

        Like just because the US is becoming an authoritarian bully that just wipes out China having been an authoritarian bully for decades.

        • Suffa@lemmy.wtf
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          5 days ago

          Oh right and Russia is the biggest victim In Ukraine, right?

          Countries trying to defend themselves does not make the bully the victim.

          • Viri4thus@feddit.org
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            5 days ago

            Huh, AUKUS was a backstab of a reliable ally to play pawn to the biggest aggressor in the entire region. How is that Australia defending itself?