Keating Compliments Wang, While Opposition Takes Aim at Backchannel Diplomacy

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating has had what he described as a “big picture discussion about the geostrategic balances and influences in the world” with Beijing’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Following the pair’s hour-long meeting on March 21 at the Chinese consulate in Sydney, Mr. Keating said Mr. Wang “displayed a keen understanding of Australia’s strengths. Its complementarity with China’s own economy and the prospect of ever-rising living standards for both countries.” He said the envoy was “very positive about putting bilateral difficulties behind us,” and was encouraged by the Albanese government’s efforts to restore “appropriate equilibrium” between the countries....