Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with China’s Premier Li Qiang at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They focused on recent military tensions and their soon-to-be bilateral relations. Just last week, a Chinese fighter jet harassed an Australian surveillance plane. Just recently it fired two flares at the Australian P8 surveillance aircraft flying over international waters in the South China Sea.
It was good to see Prime Minister Albanese raise concerns about this reckless and dangerous incident during his call with Li Qiang. He highlighted the requirement for frank discussion about military operations that may lead to wars.
“I made the position directly clear. That this was an incident of concern for Australia.” – Anthony Albanese
Li Qiang agreed with Albanese’s concerns and noted that he indeed “heard the message loud and clear.” What’s still unknown is that Albanese hasn’t shared any details about what Li said in the meeting.
Focus on Bilateral Relations
Albanese and Li weren’t only interested in military interactions. They similarly commented on the outcomes of the Australian Prime Minister’s most recent trip to the United States. Both leaders expressed optimism regarding the upcoming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and former U.S. President Donald Trump, agreeing it was “a good thing” for international relations.
Albanese emphasized the importance of cultivating a “more mature, stable and constructive engagement” with China. He stressed Australia’s commitment to deepening its ties with the country. He pointed out that dozens of Australian ministers and state governors have visited China in the last six months.
Li Qiang remarked on the positive trajectory of their relationship, stating, “Indeed, we are seeing an upward momentum in our relationship, and we welcome it, and we are happy to see it.”
Shared Interests and Future Cooperation
In their conversations, Albanese reportedly stressed two priorities of mutual interests to already strained Australia-China relations. Continuing strong bilateral trade and deeper cooperation on climate change efforts. He underscored the need for both countries to productively engage with each other on these matters to build a collaborative, win-win relationship.
Albanese did not address when asked if Li Qiang raised concerns over the critical minerals framework signed with U.S. President Donald Trump recently. There was little marginal coverage of other subjects.
“We have disagreements, and friends are able to discuss issues. That’s what we’re able to do,” – Anthony Albanese
The meeting is a continuation of recent efforts from both countries to address a shifting geopolitical landscape marked by great power competition, instability, and increasing tensions.
