So far, the federal government is showing no sign of changing the fundamental Australian position on China and Taiwan. But the Chinese have put Australians on notice about an era of deepening conflict, even war. | OPINION CroweDM
The way the Chinese air force sent a J-16 fighter to intercept an Australian surveillance plane on May 26 is the essential backdrop to the intransigent message delivered with a smile by China’s top emissary in Canberra this week. The timing of the interception said everything about a decision within the Chinese leadership to test Australia just five days after the May 21 federal election.
Yet the scrambling of the J-16 shows that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the cabinet will have to contend with direct and material challenges, not just rhetoric from the podium of the National Press Club, when Beijing pushes Australia to retreat on points of principle. What will those events be? “Use your imagination,” said Qian on Wednesday about the use of force against Taiwan. That ominous language puts all Australians on notice about an era of deepening conflict, even war.
The interception came two days later. Going further than before, the Chinese manoeuvred their fighter in front of Australia’s P-8 and released aluminium “chaff” that could damage the surveillance plane and its engines. This was not the work of a “rogue” pilot who flew too aggressively. It was calculated.The Australian government interpreted this, correctly, as a warning to a new prime minister to back off. The message was more forceful than anything Qian might say in Canberra.
Qian is an urbane and experienced diplomat who spoke with courtesy at the National Press Club. While there is real concern about giving a platform to a government that engages in human rights abuses in Xinjiang and crushes protesters in Hong Kong, the top Chinese diplomat deserves a chance to speak to a wide audience. The result: Australians can hear, in very clear language, what China wants.
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