China’s willingness to restart dialogue despite the Albanese government’s unwillingness to compromise is a win for Australia.
Australia has gained the “upper hand diplomatically” after China reopened ministerial dialogue without the Albanese government buckling on key principles, one of the architects of the tougher approach to Beijing says.
But Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi also cautions against approving China’s bid to join the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade pact to improve the relationship, while hints the ban on Australian coal exports could soon end should not be seen as a concession from Beijing.
Justin Bassi with former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Australia’s former ambassador to the US Joe Hockey.Mr Bassi as national security adviser to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and chief of staff to former foreign minister Marise Payne was a key behind-the-scenes figure in hardeningHe said the new government had shown it could both talk and act in the national interest and had maintained “strategic continuity” with the approach taken by the Coalition.