No Australia backdown on China criticism

SYDNEY, Australia – Australia on Thursday, November 28, refused to back down from its criticism of China’s newly-declared air defense identification zone, denying it overstepped the mark.

Canberra on Tuesday, November 26, summoned Beijing’s ambassador to voice opposition to the zone over the East China Sea, which includes Japan-administered islands at the heart of a tense dispute between the two neighbors.

It prompted Beijing to blast Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s actions as “irresponsible”, demanding she immediately correct her “mistake” while warning that ties could be hurt.

But Bishop remained defiant Thursday, denying the United States, which has also refused to recognize the new zone, pressured Australia into its position.

“This is longstanding Australian policy to oppose any unilateral or coercive action by any country that could add to the tensions that currently exist in the East China Sea,” she told reporters.

“We have a key stake, a key interest in ensuring that there is peace and stability in the East China Sea in our region.

“We are not the only country to have raised concerns. We would raise concerns if any other country had done something similarly.”

China is Australia’s biggest trading partner and newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott has pushed for deeper ties with the Asian giant.

But Washington remains Canberra’s key ally, and last month Bishop said the new government intended to keep Japan as its “best friend” in Asia, as it works on relations with China.

Bishop said Thursday she did not believe Canberra’s position would have ramifications for free trade talks with China.

“The Chinese government have responded, but our overall relationship continues,” she said.

“China is our major trading partner, we have a very deep and longstanding engagement with China but it is appropriate that each side be able to raise concerns with each other and do it in a way that hopefully will receive appropriate consideration.”

Abbott in October said he hoped a long-negotiated free trade agreement with China could be concluded within a year. – Rappler.com