News live: ambassador says China is a partner not a rival after Dutton says Australia must call out Beijing’s ‘bullying’ | Australia news

Back to the Press Club. Xiao Qian is asked about comments China’s ambassador to France made to media that when China takes over Taiwan, it will re-educate its 23 million people.

Can he confirm if this is Chinese government policy? He says once Taiwan is reunited, there “might be a process” for citizens to have a correct understanding about the motherland.

I think given the situation that the people of Taiwan … are under a regional regime for many decades. It is reasonable for us to understand that their perspective about China, their perspective about their motherland, might take somewhat different views. I think this is a fact. But I think the key point now is not about either education or re-education, the 1.4 billion Chinese people including the … people in Taiwan, are all Chinese.

My personal understanding is that once Taiwan is reunited, coming back to the motherland, there might be process for the people in Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China about the motherland.

Victorian Liberal denies reports Matthew Guy’s communications director quit after disagreement with new chief of staff

Dipping back to domestic politics for a minute, and Victoria’s shadow health minister, Georgia Crozier, has denied reports of a disagreement between Lee Anderson and Matthew Guy’s new chief of staff, Nick McGowan, following Anderson’s abrupt resignation.

She confirms Guy will remain in the top role until the state election on 26 November.

China ‘can never rule out’ use of force to stop Taiwan separation, says Xiao Qian

Back to Taiwan. Xiao Qian is asked about a new white paper released this morning which asserted China would “not renounce” the use of force and would take “all necessary measures” to retain the One China policy.

Can he explain what would constitute a “compelling circumstance” that would justify a use of force across the Strait?

Xiao reiterates Taiwan is “not an independent state” but a province of the People’s Republic of China. He says while they are waiting for a “peaceful unification”, China is willing to use any means necessary.

What does that mean? “You can use your imagination,” he says.

As for our approach to the question of the Taiwan, I think it’s consistent, clear and pretty open; we have [said] that on many occasions over the past several decades actually, that the people in the mainland, even in Taiwan, are Chinese. We’re both Chinese. And the Taiwanese are compatriots of China.

And the last thing we are ready to do is use force. That is one of the reasons why China has been so patient for several decades. We’re waiting for a peaceful unification.

But we can never rule out the option to use other means – so when necessary, when compelled, we are ready to use all necessary means. As to what does it mean, ‘all necessary means’? You can use your imagination, but … Chinese people are absolutely determined to protect our sovereignty, territorial integrity – we will never allow Taiwan to be separated from China.

‘We want to sort out’ Australian citizens in custody in China ‘according to Chinese rule’, ambassador says

Turning to the possible release of Australian citizen Cheng Lei, Xiao Qian says for “individual cases”, there are Australian citizens in China under custody according to “Chinese rules and laws”.

Their basic rights are well protected, don’t worry about that. And during the pandemic, during the severe periods of the pandemic in the cities where they were detained, there were times they were not accessible to their relatives or diplomats from Australia. It’s because of the pandemic.

Now it’s easy to get access to their relatives either in Australia or the Australian embassy in China. The cases are still under jurisdiction process and … we want to sort it out according to Chinese rule and the law.

‘A lot to be done to reset’ China-Australia relationship, ambassador says

The second question concerns the relationship between China and Australia. Xiao Qian mentioned in his speech the 50th anniversary of relations between the two nations. To mark this, could China make “practical moves” to improve relations including a possible lifting of trade restrictions or the release of Australian citizen Cheng Lei?

Xiao says the past two years have been a “difficult time” for the two countries and now marks an “opportunity for a possible reset of relationships” and is “hopeful” for the future if both sides find solutions.

Here we have a good start ever since the new Labor government came into power. But it’s a good start only. There’s a lot to be done to reset this relationship. There’s a lot of issues on the table, many disputes to be solved. Our policy is that … we’re ready to work together with Australia’s new government to put this relationship back on the right track.

Currently, there have been top-level communications, even face-to-face contacts, but we have not yet come to the stage to discuss about how to solve those specific issues – either political issues or trade issues, or some other individual cases’ issues.

As for trade disputes, he would rather not use the term “sanctions”.

One is a trade dispute at the government level. These are mainly on the tariffs … it happened, that’s true. It was official action … we’re ready to sort it out and solve this dispute through the WTO with the Labor government.

The second type is about people’s attitudes. When there was some policies taken or actions taken by the previous Australian government on some of the major Chinese companies, Chinese projects, Chinese businesses in this country … that’s a huge disruption to the normal business relations between our two countries. And these actions have been sending very negative messages to the people in China and they’re not happy, to be honest.

Peace and stability in Asia-Pacific would be guaranteed by respecting One China policy, ambassador says

The first question is, unsurprisingly, on Taiwan. How long will military drills continue, and in what way are the drills the action of a “stabilising nation”?

Qian says the question cuts to the essence of the One China policy, which he says was compromised by Nancy Pelosi’s visit.

If every country put their One China policy into practice with sincerity, with no compromise, [this] is going to guarantee the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The visit by Speaker Pelosi to the Taiwan region is exactly the reason that it has caused the violation of the commitments by the US government to One China policy and has caused the escalation of tension across Taiwan Strait, and the Chinese side is taking action in reaction to what has been done by the US side.

And our purpose is to send a message, clear-cut, to those who are violating the commitment of One China policy, who are supporting One China, One Taiwan or two Chinas … The reaction is legitimate, it’s justified.

As for how long military exercises and drills will last, he reiterates they are a “counter-measure” to the US visit and the fact that “there’s no room for compromise”.

On the question of Taiwan, it’s an issue relating to sovereignty and territorial integrity. There’s no room for us to compromise. And how long it’s going to last? In a proper time, I think there will be an announcement.

Many thanks to Natasha May for guiding us through today’s news. I’ll continue to bring you the latest from the National Press Club address.

Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has finished his speech but is taking questions from the press, the details of which Caitlin Cassidy will bring you as well as much more this afternoon.

Handle Taiwan question with caution and take One China principle seriously, ambassador says

Xiao Qian has gotten to the elephant in the room, Taiwan, at the end of his speech:

The Taiwan question has received much attention recently. On August 2, the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, visited China’s Taiwan region.

This is a serious violation of the One China principle and violation of the provisions of the three China US-China communiques. It has a serious impact on the political impact of China-US relations and seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and sends seriously a wrong signal to the separatist forces for the so-called Taiwan independence.

Speaker Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan region in disregard of China’s strong opposition making it clear to the world it was the US side who first took provocative action to change and undermine the status quo. And it is the US side that should and must take full responsibility for the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

China is compelled to take counter-measures to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity which is legitimate and justified.

Australia’s government has reaffirmed on several occasions its commitment to the One China principle as is clearly stated in the 1972 joint communique between China and Australia.

Here I quote: “The Australian government recognises the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and cknowledges the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China.”

The One China principle is the solemn commitment by successful Australian governments, either Liberal or Labor, for the past five decades. This principle should be strictly abided by and fully honoured. It should not be misinterpreted or compromised in practice.

We hope that Australian side can take China-Australia relations with a serious attitude. Take the One China principle seriously. Handle the Taiwan question with caution.

China has no intention to interfere in Australia’s exchanges with other countries, ambassador says

Xiao Qian says:

China respects Australia’s normal exchanges and cooperation with other countries. China has no intention to interfere in or undermine Australia’s relations with a third party.

At the same time, it is our belief that China and Australia should make independent judgments and decisions to develop our own bilateral relations based on interests of the people of China and the people of Australia, free from interference from a third party.

He has gone on to praise former prime minister Gough Whitlam who established a diplomatic relationship between China and Australia fifty years ago.

Fifty years ago, Prime Minister Whitlam overcame tremendous difficulties and challenges and made the brave decision to establish diplomatic relations between Australia and China. In the initiation of cooperation with China, an engagement with Asia, [Australia has] proven that [it] is fully capable of playing its role independently in international affairs.

Chinese ambassador says China is a partner, not a rival

Chinese ambassador says Albanese government is opportunity for ‘reset’

As the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, continues his address at the National Press Club, he says the new government has provided opportunity for “reset” of relations between the two countries.

With the recent federal election, we have a new Australian government … it did provide us with a possible opportunity to reset the relationship between our two countries. Chinese premier Li Keqiang sent his congratulatory messages to the new prime minister of Australia, and prime minister Albanese returned with a letter of thanks.

Defence ministers, foreign minister from our two countries, held their bilateral meetings. We have also seen ministerial communications between the two countries on education, on economy and on trade.

The meeting between the two foreign ministers was especially productive. An important consensus was reached. The two sides reaffirmed their comprehensive strategic partnership and expressed willingness to engagements, enhance mutual trust, properly handle differences, remove obstacles and promote cooperation in a spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

These consensus are significant for the future development of China-Australia relations. The positive progress in our bilateral relations is encouraging – is an encouraging start, and of course, there’s a lot of work to be done.

It’s very important for both sides to make further efforts to keep the momentum, take actions for substantial progress and to strive to bring our bilateral relations back on the right track.

Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian begins press club address

Former government wasted $21m with CovidSafe app which only detected two cases, Butler says

The Albanese government has deleted what it calls “the wasteful and ineffective CovidSafe app”.

A statement released by Mark Butler, the minister for health and aged care, said:

The former government wasted more than $21 million of taxpayer’s money on this failed app.

Since it was launched in April 2020 only two positive COVID-19 cases were identified through the app, which were not found by manual contact tracers.

The app only identified 17 close contacts that hadn’t already been identified through manual contact tracing.

There was a total of 7.9 million registrations of the COVIDSafe app between April 2020 and May 2022, but fewer than 800 users consented to their data being added to the National COVIDSafe Data Store for contact tracing.

This failed app cost taxpayers more than $10 million in developing the app, a further $7 million on advertising and marketing, $2.1 million on upkeep and more than $2 million on staff.

The last upload of data from users to the National COVIDSafe Data Store occurred in May 2021, and there has been no access to the data store by state and territory authorities since January 2022.

Antique columns worth almost half a million dollars stolen in WA

More than 40 cast iron Corinthian columns made more than a century ago have been stolen from a commercial property in Western Australia.

Police have released a statement today seeking information about the columns they say are “very distinctive Corinthian style capitals and fluted bases”.

The statement said the columns were made in 1912 and used in the Boans department store before it was knocked down.

They are valued at approximately $490,000 and weigh about 3 tonnes each according to police.

Liberals’ refusal to collaborate is out of step with mainstream Australia, treasurer says

The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, spoke in Brisbane earlier this morning responding to the opposition’s decision not to attend the government’s upcoming jobs summit.

The September summit plans to bring together representatives from business, industry, union and community sectors. Sussan Ley labelled it a “stunt” on Sky News earlier today.

Chalmers said he’s disappointed but not surprised the opposition won’t be attending.

Peter Dutton is always looking for an excuse to trash consensus and to trash collaborative efforts everyone else is engaged in. His position does not reflect the position of mainstream Australia, the position taken by the business community, by the union movement, by different levels of government, different political persuasions of state governments and local councils. … He is a destructive figure in a country that wants to collaborate and seek consensus. We are representing those efforts, guiding and leading those efforts to work together at the same time as he’s tried to wreck it. He will come up with all kinds of excuses for why he knocked back this invitation.

Chalmers flagged the government will later publish the full invitation details.

We will make it clear down the track who else has been invited and accepted.