Deputy PM Richard Marles’ hour-long meeting with China's defence chief has been welcomed with caution by experts who say it is a small step towards repairing the relationship between Australia and China, writes katinacurtis.
He said that in seizing the opportunity for the meeting, Marles had shown it was possible for Australian leaders to clearly define the threats posed by Chinese assertion in the region and still be able to sit down for respectful talks.
“Of course, it’s better than not talking at all,” he said. “I think we have to have low expectations going forward about how far and how fast this kind of discussion can go. So let’s take this as a win but with our eyes wide open and understanding that it’s just a very small step, really, in the large picture of things.
Dennis Richardson, a former head of ASIO, Defence and DFAT, said it was likely the fact Australia had a new government played a strong part. “That’s not a criticism of the previous government. But they [Labor] don’t carry the baggage of the differences in respect of the pandemic. They don’t carry the baggage of ministers incessantly talking about the potential for conflict with China, they’re able to start with a clean slate.”
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