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”.
The US prenteded to be Australia’s ally and friend, China is just another country who happens to be a great customer and that should be recognised but that’s about it.
I’d pivot away from the US and try and forge better and closer alliances (more like we have with NZ) with places, The EU, Canada, Japan for tradr and defence but theres no warm embrace with China.
As an Australian I’ve long been a Green voter and their policy has been arms length from the US (and China)
That the US treats us with disdain has been obvious for decades.