Beijing’s Foreign Minister Seeks Meeting With Former Australian Leader

Published on March 18, 2024

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a high-ranking member of China’s ruling communist party, has sought a meeting with former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in a move that risks undermining the Albanese government’s diplomatic agenda this week. It is also at odds with Beijing’s claim that the trip is intended to send “positive signals” about the relationship between the two countries. Rather, it’s illustrative of Beijing’s strategy of eroding bipartisan support in Australia for the AUKUS pact and efforts to work with other countries to stop the CCP from dominating the region. Mr. Keating is a regular and outspoken critic of Labor’s current foreign policy and of Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong personally....

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