Junket Jen has delivered big for sponsor Andrew Forrest at The Australian Fortescue Review again today:
China’s leadership has been so incensed by the Turnbull government’s rhetoric about China that it is regularly refusing visas to ministers and the major Australian annual showcase of trade and business in China looks certain to be abandoned this year.
This is part of a deep chill in the official government-to-government relationship with Australia’s major trading partner – most apparent since Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull targeted foreign influence in Australian politics with legislation, accompanied by considerable anti-China rhetoric, at the end of last year.
The Australia Week in China expo usually features business and political leaders visiting China for a celebration of Australian products and has been promoted as a great example of the strong ties and trading opportunities between the two countries.
Andrew Forrest refused to confirm or deny that FMG had been unable to obtain visas for any Australian politician to attend in 2018.
Jennifer Hewett is attending Boao as a guest of Fortescue Metals Group
Good to see FMG getting it’s money’s worth. Strangely the disclosure is back today which kind of takes the shine off things. Surely it can be rubbed out with another cocktail dress.
Meanwhile, back in the land of journalistic remnants comes David Wroe:
A Beijing-funded wharf in Vanuatu that is struggling to make money is big enough to allow powerful warships to dock alongside it, heightening fears the port could be converted into a Chinese naval installation.
Fairfax Media inspected the $114 million Luganville wharf on Wednesday and was told US coastguard officials and Marines recently visited the sprawling facility and took a keen interest in its specifications.
Some defence experts have warned the wharf, which is now the largest in the South Pacific and strategically located in the same harbour in which the US based tens of thousands of troops during World War II, has been built with the option of converting it in the future to a naval base.
Fairfax Media revealed this week that Beijing is looking to establish a permanent military presence on Vanuatu. The Chinese and Vanuatu governments have strenuously denied they have discussed a military base, though
Fairfax Media has confirmed with multiple senior sources that Australian national security officials have been aware of the overtures for some time, and are deeply concerned.
But it’s to fight alongside Australians, isn’t it? As the Chinese always have. Comrade Forrest said so in a speech last month:
Much of the current Australian debate fuels distrust, paranoia and a loss of respect.
This has to stop.
We have listened too much to immature alarmists and not enough to each other. We have neglected the nourishment of our greatest friendship — China and Australia must nourish that friendship.
I ask Australians to stand with me and respect and celebrate the Chinese community’s deep roots in Australia, and the vital role China has played in the strength and cultural richness of Australia.
Our shared experiences, through some of the worst horrors in history, are far more meaningful than differences in tradition or our political systems.
These differences, which are often used to imply some ‘new challenge’ to Australia, have existed for decades.
They existed while we carved out our current strong relationship. They existed when we fought alongside one another. And they existed when we signed globally important trade deals. We need to stop only focusing on what separates us.
Sure, but we also need to focus on what what drives us apart like, you know, democracy. We fought together in WWII against fascism. But I’m pretty sure we were on opposite sides in Korea and Vietnam, however unwise those conflicts were. The ideological conflicts driving the latter two have more in common with our circumstances today than the former.
Though I could change my mind…for a free trip somewhere…
