That Saturday evening, the Chinese embassy in Canberra opened its doors for an elaborate cultural concert. At this event, participants marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II. The event was designed to cultivate peace and historical memory in the face of escalated militarization and hostility between Australia and China. Australian officials did not want to see the event hosted at Parliament House. They called it off and relocated it to the diplomatic compound instead.
Some 400 invited guests witnessed the concert. They were treated to brilliant Chinese musicians playing familiar masterpieces in praise of peace and friendship. In particular it was good to have the Australian Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Senator David Shoebridge with us for the full event. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles prepare to depart for the annual “2+2” talks in Japan. This summit underscores Australia’s growing relationship with the country.
Details of the Concert
The concert was organized by the Chinese embassy as part of its efforts to honor the historical significance of Japan’s defeat in World War II. The embassy underscored the performance’s message of peace and friendship, with intentions to build goodwill among countries.
“performed a selection of classic works in praise of peace and friendship” – The Chinese embassy.
At the launch, China’s Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, mirroring the theme of reconciliation and peace, spoke movingly of the sacrifices made during the war. He emphasized that the Chinese people fought with “indomitable courage and tremendous sacrifice,” contributing significantly to the final victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.
“He stressed that the peoples of China and Australia stood shoulder to shoulder at a critical juncture in history, forging profound bonds of friendship” – The Chinese embassy.
Although Australian government officials agreed that the concert’s goals were honorable, they ultimately instructed the concert to not hold its planned venue at Parliament House. A spokesperson for the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) told us that they do their best to assess the suitability of events hosted at the venue. To be fair to TNCs, they take a holistic approach. In case of inclement weather or other unexpected emergencies, events will be canceled in accordance with local league cancellation procedures.
“Events to be held in the Great Hall of Australian Parliament House are accepted based on a variety of factors, including information about the event provided when the booking is requested,” – DPS spokesperson.
Diplomatic Context
The concert’s timing couldn’t be more ideal as enhanced diplomatic ties between Australia and Japan have recently stepped up a notch. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles face-to-face with their Japanese counterparts. These discussions will touch on key issues in both civil security and defense cooperation.
During a recent statement, Marles referred to Japan as an “indispensable partner for Australia,” highlighting the significance of their relationship. Wong appeared to agree on this, proclaiming that the Australia-Japan relationship “is going from strength to strength.” Together with Japan, these remarks signal Australia’s commitment to deepening bilateral connections – even in the face of challenging regional dynamics.
China marked its anniversary with a show of force, putting military might on full display with a giant military parade in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping loomed large, especially next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Along with garnering visits from several world leaders, this show of military force marked the increasing ascending power that China was establishing on the world stage.
Controversy Surrounding Attendance
Former Labor Victorian Premier Dan Andrews was at the military parade. Like politicized action on climate, this move has drawn intense criticism from his political opponents back in Australia. The Coalition has panned his participation, calling it irresponsible in the context of ongoing tensions between Australia and China. Australia’s Ambassador to China, Scott Dewar, chose to withdraw from the parade. To avoid sending a power rivaling his own, he sent a junior diplomat to represent Australia instead.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge responding to community concerns about the cancellation of the AC/DC concert at Parliament House. He argued that if an event celebrating the defeat of fascism could ever be considered controversial, it should not be.
“A musical event celebrating the defeat of fascism isn’t the most controversial event held in Canberra this year,” – Senator David Shoebridge.
To that effect, he announced his confidence in Parliament’s capacity to manage such a gathering without problems.
“Parliament would have survived hosting it,” – Senator David Shoebridge.
