Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been unexpectedly praised by Beijing for his “strategic autonomy” ahead of a meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping.
An editorial this week by the China Daily, widely seen as a mouthpiece for the ruling Chinese Communist Party, laid bare the country’s feelings about the Australian PM, touting him as a leader president-elect Donald Trump should emulate if he wishes to maintain a relationship between the US and China.
“This is a time of unprecedented geopolitical complexity and uncertainty, fresh after the incumbent US administration tried so hard to revive traditional alliances and partnerships,” the masthead said.
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“Recalibrating bilateral relations in light of a retrogressive US foreign policy and repositioning themselves on the global stage relative to the US’ anticipated policy reversals will be an inevitable balancing act for every US ally and partner.
“Australia, however, might offer some useful reference for those struggling to strike such a balance.”
The masthead cited recent comments Albanese made to the ABC, in which he said spoke about the country’s “important” relationship with China while also acknowledging the US was Australia’s largest two-way investment partner.
Under Scott Morrison’s leadership, when Trump was last in power, the masthead said Australia’s ties with China had deteriorated because the government “fell under Washington’s anti-China spell”.
But Canberra has since “woken up” and Albanese has managed to repair the damage in a display of “strategic autonomy”, it said.
The comments come as Albanese and Xi Jinping are due to meet as part of the APEC and G20 talks in South America this weekend.
Speaking to the ABC last month Albanese said his goal for the meeting was to open up a level of engagement with China as a major source of trade for Australia.
“We’ve seen major breakthroughs when it comes to removing some of the impediments that have been there for trade,” he said.
The PM said he wouldn’t shy away from raising concerns with Xi Jinping about a range of issues including his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There are issues of human rights, where we have different positions, and we’ll put those positions strongly, clearly and directly to China,” Albanese said.
“And I think that’s the way that you build a relationship though, is to have that, those straight talks and I believe Australia’s in a position to do so.”
Rounding out its praise for Albanese and advice for Trump, the China Daily reminded the world that it does not “engage in exclusive cliques, bloc politics, or camp confrontation”.
“Small cliques can neither solve the major challenges facing the world nor adapt to the drastic changes in today’s world,” the masthead said.
“All regional countries should be vigilant against and oppose those attempts to throw the region into chaos.”