Australia’s biggest exporting state urged the government to stop antagonising China, the country’s top trade partner. Increasing criticism of Beijing is being led by the United States, Australia’s main ally.
“This isn’t about kowtowing to other countries and giving in,” the Western Australian Premier said at an oil and gas industry conference, being held in Perth. “There needs to be a national reset in that relationship.”
Relations with China worsened last year when Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of Covid-19, which sparked trade reprisals from China, affecting Australian exports ranging from barley and coal to lobster and wine.