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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/11/julie-bishop-in-balancing-act-after-colleague-criticises-chinas-pacific-aid
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Julie Bishop in balancing act after colleague criticises China’s Pacific aid | Julie Bishop in balancing act after colleague criticises China’s Pacific aid |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has attempted to walk back criticism of China’s Pacific aid program by one of her ministerial colleagues, after Beijing labelled Concetta Fierravanti-Wells’s intervention as “nothing but irresponsible”. | Australia’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, has attempted to walk back criticism of China’s Pacific aid program by one of her ministerial colleagues, after Beijing labelled Concetta Fierravanti-Wells’s intervention as “nothing but irresponsible”. |
| In her first statement since Fierravanti-Wells, the international development minister, criticised China for building “white elephant” infrastructure projects in Pacific nations, Bishop was careful not to disagree with the spirit of her colleague’s point. | In her first statement since Fierravanti-Wells, the international development minister, criticised China for building “white elephant” infrastructure projects in Pacific nations, Bishop was careful not to disagree with the spirit of her colleague’s point. |
| However, the statement, aimed at quelling a growing diplomatic furore, also sought to reassure China it was appreciated. | However, the statement, aimed at quelling a growing diplomatic furore, also sought to reassure China it was appreciated. |
| “The Australian government welcomes investment in developing nations in the Pacific that supports sustainable economic growth, and which does not impose onerous debt burdens on regional governments,” she said. | “The Australian government welcomes investment in developing nations in the Pacific that supports sustainable economic growth, and which does not impose onerous debt burdens on regional governments,” she said. |
| “Australia works with a wide range of development partners, including China, in pursuit of the goal of eliminating poverty in our region and globally.” | “Australia works with a wide range of development partners, including China, in pursuit of the goal of eliminating poverty in our region and globally.” |
| Bishop’s statement followed China’s newswire service Xinhua’s publishing of an online commentary piece on Wednesday evening, calling out Australia as the “least friendly nation to China in 2017”, based on the findings of an online poll. | Bishop’s statement followed China’s newswire service Xinhua’s publishing of an online commentary piece on Wednesday evening, calling out Australia as the “least friendly nation to China in 2017”, based on the findings of an online poll. |
| “If Australia really cares about its Pacific neighbours, it should first learn from China’s to treat those much smaller neighbours as equals and refrain from behaving like an arrogant overlord,” it reported. | “If Australia really cares about its Pacific neighbours, it should first learn from China’s to treat those much smaller neighbours as equals and refrain from behaving like an arrogant overlord,” it reported. |
| “Then it could learn, again from China, to contribute constructive ideas, if not funds, to address the real concerns of the peoples in those countries.” | “Then it could learn, again from China, to contribute constructive ideas, if not funds, to address the real concerns of the peoples in those countries.” |
| In interviews with the ABC and the Australian, Fierravanti-Wells said China was building “roads to nowhere” in the Pacific, and raised concerns the island nations were taking on debt they could not afford to repay. | In interviews with the ABC and the Australian, Fierravanti-Wells said China was building “roads to nowhere” in the Pacific, and raised concerns the island nations were taking on debt they could not afford to repay. |
| China responded by making formal representations to Australia’s embassy in Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, told the ABC Australia should “engage in self-reflection instead of pointing fingers and making irresponsible remarks on other countries”. | China responded by making formal representations to Australia’s embassy in Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, told the ABC Australia should “engage in self-reflection instead of pointing fingers and making irresponsible remarks on other countries”. |
| Vanuatu’s only daily newspaper, The Daily Post, also weighed in on the diplomatic row, describing Fierravanti-Wells’s comments as firing “a salvo across China’s bows”. | Vanuatu’s only daily newspaper, The Daily Post, also weighed in on the diplomatic row, describing Fierravanti-Wells’s comments as firing “a salvo across China’s bows”. |
| While it acknowledged concerns over the debt Vanuatu was incurring by accepting China’s loans, it also questioned Australia’s intervention, calling Fierravanti-Wells’s comments “a surprisingly tone-deaf flight of rhetoric”. | While it acknowledged concerns over the debt Vanuatu was incurring by accepting China’s loans, it also questioned Australia’s intervention, calling Fierravanti-Wells’s comments “a surprisingly tone-deaf flight of rhetoric”. |
| “China’s record with infrastructure projects is spotty, to be sure,” the paper reported. “And we are right to criticise. But Ms Fierravanti-Wells should do more homework before diving into the debate. | “China’s record with infrastructure projects is spotty, to be sure,” the paper reported. “And we are right to criticise. But Ms Fierravanti-Wells should do more homework before diving into the debate. |
| “Australia’s major roads project in Vanuatu, proudly unveiled in 2013 by then foreign minister Bob Carr is a laughing stock. | “Australia’s major roads project in Vanuatu, proudly unveiled in 2013 by then foreign minister Bob Carr is a laughing stock. |
| “The government of Australia might want to put down those stones it’s throwing at China and learn a thing or two from its own mistakes first. And talking over our heads about our shortcomings isn’t going to win them many friends here, either. | “The government of Australia might want to put down those stones it’s throwing at China and learn a thing or two from its own mistakes first. And talking over our heads about our shortcomings isn’t going to win them many friends here, either. |
| “If Australia is serious about helping, it should do more, do it better and gripe less.” | “If Australia is serious about helping, it should do more, do it better and gripe less.” |
| Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, described the situation as “clumsy” on Wednesday. | Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Penny Wong, described the situation as “clumsy” on Wednesday. |
| “Let’s remember that China has played an increasing role in the Pacific, while the Coalition, under Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott, have increasingly abandoned the region, relentlessly hacking at our foreign aid funding and seeing an $11bn cut to the development budget since they won government,” she told the ABC. | “Let’s remember that China has played an increasing role in the Pacific, while the Coalition, under Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott, have increasingly abandoned the region, relentlessly hacking at our foreign aid funding and seeing an $11bn cut to the development budget since they won government,” she told the ABC. |
| “Well, Pacific island neighbours have felt the impact of these cuts.” | “Well, Pacific island neighbours have felt the impact of these cuts.” |
| China’s increased role in the Pacific, its growing international influence, and the continuation of its hostility with Taiwan over that nation’s independence, continue to be closely monitored by Australia and its allies. | China’s increased role in the Pacific, its growing international influence, and the continuation of its hostility with Taiwan over that nation’s independence, continue to be closely monitored by Australia and its allies. |
| Julie Bishop | Julie Bishop |
| China | China |
| Asia Pacific | Asia Pacific |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
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