[…]
“We are not going to be holding hands with China in respect of any contest that is going on in the world,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News, referring to the Chinese ambassador’s proposal for countries to “join hands” on trade.
“We are not doing that. What we are doing is pursuing Australia’s national interests and diversifying our trade around the world.”
He said Australia would build its economic resilience by strengthening trade ties with the European Union, Indonesia, India, Britain and the Middle East.
[…]
This happened in Australia, so it should really be posted in !news@aussie.zone or !australianpolitics@aussie.zone
Maybe I’m naive but I would’ve thought the correct diplomatic response here would be something like:
Yeah of course mate we join hands with everyone in these trying times including our good friends the US, the EU, ASEAN, and especially China.
Anyhoo. We’re better off playing the field. Anyone seeking to befriend us at this time doesn’t have our best interests in mind.
Yeah nah, Wolf warrior china decided to block lobsters, barley and wine in 2020.
It’s basically everyone for themselves at this point. Nobody is joining hands.
My point is, it’s just words.
China have imposed their own tariffs on Aussie stuff in the past, so fuck 'em.
Well yeah that’s what we should do but we can still say nice things just because it’s nice to be nice you know?
Super, trump says his economy tanking tariffs are a bargaining chip and Australian govt doesn’t even think of pretending to use it’s ties to China as one too? Smartest move here would have been to kept very vague on the idea.
