“Because it did for the latest iterations of the discussion board held previous to the COVID-19 pandemic, defence might be represented on the 2023 Beijing Xiangshan Discussion board by a senior official,” a spokesperson for Australia’s Division of Defence mentioned in an announcement to Reuters.
Chinese language and Australian defence officers held their first assembly since 2019 in March, per week after Australia’s AUKUS partnership with the US and Britain unveiled particulars of a plan to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s, which China opposes.
The deportation on Wednesday of an Australian journalist who had been detained in China for three years on nationwide safety costs is the most recent step in warming ties between Beijing and Canberra.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who got here to energy final 12 months with a objective of stabilising relations with Australia’s largest commerce associate, mentioned he expects to go to China this 12 months, the primary go to by an Australian chief since 2016.
Whereas China has mentioned it poses no risk to Australia, Australia has been stepping up its participation in army workouts with its allies, from amphibious drills within the Philippines to navy workouts with Japan, the US and India, amid concern about Chinese language strain on self-ruled Taiwan.
