In an astonishing encounter with reporters in the nation’s capital, China’s envoy to Australia suggested that one of our allies, Japan, may invade Australia, invoking World War II.
“During World War II, Japan invaded Australia, attacked Darwin, murdered Australians, and indefensibly handled Australian prisoners of war,” Chinese envoy Ambassador Xiao Qian said at a press conference in Canberra on Tuesday.
China Accuses Japan Of Planning To Invade Australia
The Japanese government has not issued an apology for World War II. Xiao’s incendiary comments were made one day after The Australian published an interview with his Japanese counterpart, ambassador Shingo Yamagami.
Yamagami discussed the recent thawing of relations between Australia and China under the administration of the Albanese in this interview.
“I believe this is a positive development. ‘At the same time, we must remain watchful, as nothing fundamental appears to have changed in terms of their policies and strategies,” he said.
He stated that the alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States constituted the unwarranted targeting of China as a possible danger.
Xiao argued in the extensive group interview that the AUKUS deal would be a waste of Australian tax dollars.
The Labor government has pledged to implement the 2021 security agreement the Coalition reached with the United Kingdom and the United States that will assist Australia to obtain nuclear-powered submarines.
Xiao stated that Beijing was not attempting to enmity any of the three AUKUS member nations, but that the treaty would harm their relationships with China.
Mr. Xiao asserted that Australia will seek to deploy its nuclear submarines as conventional weapons, in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation treaty obligations.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade refuted similar assertions made by the Chinese Embassy in September, stressing that the treaty does not restrict non-nuclear weapon states from acquiring nuclear naval propulsion.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintained that Australia will not acquire nuclear weapons, with the AUKUS submarines powered by nuclear propulsion but carrying only conventional artillery.
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Beijing To Lift Restrictions Against Australian Products
On Tuesday, Xiao welcomed the media to a New Year’s celebration at the Chinese embassy in Canberra. He offered the media a glass of 2017 Chateau Tanunda Barossa Valley shiraz and asserted that there were no Chinese sanctions against Australian goods.
The celebration at the embassy coincides with rumors that China is about to lift its trade restrictions on Australian exports, including wine, following a significant improvement in relations between the two nations over the past six months.
In November, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping met, ending a six-year diplomatic freeze, before Foreign Minister Penny Wong traveled to Beijing last month to meet with authorities there.
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