Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
Australia refuses to apologize to China after being accused of poisoning bilateral relations, Thursday (19/11).
The Chinese office has drawn up a long list of charges and demanded that Australia take action to curb deteriorating relations between the two countries.
“(The accusation) does not make sense. Australia is a sovereign country. We make our own decisions in the national interest,” said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, as quoted by SBS News.
He dismissed criticism that Australia was acting on the behest of the United States in drafting foreign policy.
Furthermore, Morrison said the Chinese embassy unofficial documents questioned Australia because Canberra spoke freely about China regarding human rights abuses and criticism of politicians and the media.
“If this is the cause of tension in the relationship, it seems the tension is (because) Australia (remains) Australia,” he said.
“I can assure you we will always be Australian, acting in our behalf and in accordance with our values,” he said.
Last Wednesday Morrison just returned from Japan, where he signed a historic defense pact that has been in the works for six years.
After the agreement was signed, the Chinese embassy reacted immediately by leaking a list of complaints as well as briefing the media.
“China is angry. If you make China an enemy, China will be an enemy,” an official told Nine News.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian explained that officials in Beijing would offer a little compromise to resolve the dispute.
He said Australia was responsible for the downturn in relations, saying “whoever starts the problem must end it”.
“I want to emphasize that the Australian side is fully aware of the essence of the decline in bilateral relations,” Zhao told journalists in China.
“We hope the Australian side does more to enhance mutual trust and cooperation and enhance a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries,” he said.
Among China’s complaints are the prohibition of Huawei and its 5G network from operating in Australia and Canberra’s push to investigate the origins of the coronavirus.
In line with Morrison, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham also expressed his determination.
“We do not apologize because Australia has a foreign investment law which acts in the national interest of Australia, because it protects the communication network. But despite all this, we are doing it in a non-discriminatory way,” he told ABC, Thursday.
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