The Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has told her visiting Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, that Australians are “shocked” at the suspended death sentence imposed on the writer Dr Yang Hengjun. Wong raised the Australian citizen’s case – along with human rights more broadly – during a meeting that was largely aimed at stabilising the previously turbulent relationship with Australia’s largest trading partner. Acknowledging “important differences” between the two countries that would have to be navigated “wisely”, Wong said Anthony Albanese looked forward to welcoming the Chinese premier, Li Qiang,…
Tag: Penny Wong
Australia politics live: China’s foreign minister to arrive in Canberra amid calls for Penny Wong to demand release of Yang Hengjun
From 44m ago Press China to release Yang Hengjun, rights group say Daniel Hurst Human rights groups have urged the Australian government to demand the immediate release of Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun and press other human rights issues strongly during meetings with China’s top diplomat today. The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will hold talks with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Canberra today, with trade, regional security and human rights among the topics expected to be raised. Amnesty International has written to Wong saying it “joins Uyghur, Tibetan,…
Chinese foreign minister’s visit to Australia locked in hours after Beijing signals wine tariff lift
China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, will visit Australia for the first time in seven years, with next week’s trip being locked in just hours after Beijing offered a reprieve to Australian winemakers. China imposed tariffs of up to 200% on Australian wine at the height of the diplomatic dispute in 2020, alongside measures affecting a range of products including barley, red meat, seafood and coal. Australia has since been in the grips of a wine glut with an oversupply equivalent to more than 2.8bn bottles of wine after vintage last…
Government ‘appalled’ by suspended death sentence for Australian academic, Penny Wong says – video
Foreign minister Penny Wong says Australian academic Yang Hengjun has received a suspended death sentence in China, an outcome that has ‘appalled’ the Australian government. ‘We understand that this can be committed to a life sentence following two years,’ Wong said. ‘We will be communicating our response in the strongest terms’ The Guardian
BoM forecasts category three storm – as it happened
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Albanese and Wong evoke Whitlam in bid to defrost China relations
Australia’s relationship with China has been stuck in the bottom compartment of the diplomatic deep freezer since 2020. Given this, it seemed appropriate that Arctic weather heralded the arrival of Anthony Albanese to the Temple of Heaven on Monday morning. When I say Arctic weather, it was cold enough to snap-freeze extremities. The wind ripped across the World Heritage site, sand-blasting rows of ceremonial chrysanthemums and threatening to upend a prime ministerial lectern. One Australian reporter, minus a coat, enfolded himself in bubble wrap to try and maintain some body…
Australia politics live: Marles warns of risks in ‘grave’ China clash; the ‘fables’ spread by the no campaign
<gu-island name="KeyEventsCarousel" priority="feature" deferuntil="visible" props="{"keyEvents":[{"id":"65303b038f0858f6e93c8a63","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" Thank you to Martin for getting us started this morning – you have Amy Remeikis with you now for the last parliament sitting this week. ","elementId":"ebcf54b3-a0ce-4923-b31d-e1c0f7500109"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" The Canberra team will be with you very soon – that’s Katharine Murphy, Daniel Hurst, Paul Karp, Sarah Basford Canales and Josh Butler. ","elementId":"bad8faa1-da8c-454c-ada9-dbf882f4feeb"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" You’ll also be treated to some Mike Bowers magic and be kept up to date by the entire Guardian brains trust. ","elementId":"68adaa37-1b17-41c2-9f94-cbefc32f353e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":" It’s a three-coffee morning so far. Hope your Thursday (always the worst day…
Cheng Lei: Australia’s foreign minister reveals the promise she made to jailed journalist’s children
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has revealed she promised the children of the formerly jailed journalist Cheng Lei to “do everything I could to bring her home”. Speaking a day after Cheng returned to Melbourne after three years in detention in China accused of ill-defined security-related allegations, Wong said the Australian journalist was “in extraordinarily good spirits” and was “pretty tough”. “I think I was more emotional than she was,” Wong said on Thursday, as she described greeting Cheng at Melbourne airport the day before. “It was really moving…
Pro-democracy advocate says Australia should prepare to lay future sanctions against Hong Kong officials
An Australian citizen who the Hong Kong authorities have vowed to “pursue for life” has risked further ire from Beijing by calling on the Australian government to consider future sanctions against Chinese officials. Kevin Yam, one of eight overseas-based pro-democracy advocates accused of “encouraging sanctions … to destroy Hong Kong”, said the city’s descent into increasingly repressive rule had been “gut-wrenching”. In his most extensive interview since arrest warrants and “bounties” were announced last month, the Melbourne-based lawyer also expressed concern for two other Australian citizens detained in China. Yam…
Australia warns of economic weakness in Pacific as it outlines development goals – without mentioning China
Australian officials have sounded the alarm about rising debt levels and economic “fragility” among Pacific countries amid increasing competition with China for influence. On Tuesday the Australian government will publish the first update of its international development policy in a decade, with a focus on the Pacific, south-east Asia and south Asia. The policy is not backed by any new foreign aid funding, but the government wants to use “blended finance” tools to encourage the private sector to lend money, especially for climate-related projects in south-east Asia. The government will…