- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the United States would not leave Australia alone in the face of economic coercion from China
- Washington has regularly criticised what it says are Beijing’s attempts to bully its neighbours with competing interests
- Beijing has imposed a number of trade sanctions on Australian exports after tensions between the two nations worsened in recent years
- Australia’s trade ministers have been unable to secure contact with their Chinese counterparts since diplomatic relations took a turn in 2020
- Still, Payne told journalists that Australia has been clear it wants constructive ties with China
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the United States would not leave Australia alone in the face of economic coercion from China.
Washington has regularly criticised what it says are Beijing’s attempts to bully its neighbours with competing interests. U.S. President Joe Biden has also sought to strengthen ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s increasing power.
“I reiterated that the United States will not leave Australia alone on the field, or maybe I should say alone on the pitch, in the face of economic coercion by China,” Blinken said at a press briefing with Australia’s Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
“And we’ve made clear to the PRC [People’s Republic of China] how such actions targeting our closest partners and allies will hinder improvements in our own relationship with China.”
Beijing has imposed a number of trade sanctions on Australian exports, including wine and coal, after tensions between the two nations worsened in recent years.
Australia’s trade ministers have been unable to secure contact with their Chinese counterparts since diplomatic relations took a turn in 2020, and last week China “indefinitely” suspended a key mechanism for economic dialogue.
Australia was one of the first countries to ban Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G network, and angered Beijing last year with its call for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
Still, Payne told journalists that Australia has been clear it wants constructive ties with China.
“But we won’t compromise on our national security or our sovereignty and we’ll continue to act to protect that,” she said.