China-Australia: What's really behind the conflict?

Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
December 2, 2020 13:05 MYT
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrives at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan, November 17, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File photo
Australia and China have had favourable diplomatic relations having actively engaged with one another especially in the economic sector. China is Australia's largest trading partner.
Relations between the two, however, started to deteriorate in recent years. Tensions seemed to have worsened this week after China slappped enormous tariffs on Australian wine. Meanwhile, Australia demanded an apology from China after a senior official posted a doctored image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of a child.
But let’s go back to several years ago, to when tensions started to boil over issues relating to sovereignty, human rights, tech, South China Sea and COVID-19.
Trade war
In recent months, China has targeted several Australian imports including coal, timber, copper, beef, meat, lobsters and barley.
READ MORE: Australia 'will always be Australia,' PM responds to China grievances
Far from over
With Australia already stricken by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has demanded China for an explanation as to why the country has been singled out with so many trade restrictions.
Chinese authorities have detailed 14 grievances with Canberra that it claims explained the sharp deterioration in bilateral relations.
The list of grievances includes China’s dissatisfaction towards the banning of Huawei from the 5G network, the COVID-19 origins probe on China, raids on Chinese journalists and academic visa cancellations, interference in China’s affairs in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, amongst many others.
A Chinese government official was reported to have said, 'China is angry. If you make China the enemy, China will be the enemy,'
More recently, China continues its provocation through social media.
  • A few countries have spoken out in support of Australia over the incident, including the U.S, U.K, New Zealand and France.
  • READ MORE: Chinese embassy says Australia 'misread' offending social media post
    #China #Australia #trade war #COVID-19 #Hong Kong #import #ban #South China Sea #Twitter #Scott Morrison #Zhao Lijian #Jacinda Ardern
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