China relations
Cheng Lei has spent three years in a Beijing jail. This is her message to Australia
“This is a love letter to 25 million people and 7 million square kilometres of land, abundant nature, beauty and space.”
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Latest
‘Another positive step’: Chinese tour groups to return to Australia
Beijing has issued a new list of approved travel destinations. The decision follows a three-year hiatus and come despite threats of a long-term boycott.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Rudd warns risk of war in our region is ‘not a theory’
In a sweeping speech while unveiling his official portrait, the former PM also urged Australians to resist fearmongering about a Voice to parliament.
- by Matthew Knott
Opinion
Trade wars
Higher and higher: America keeps raising its fence against China
Concerned about the transfer of know-how for military or intelligence-gathering applications, the Biden administration restricts investments by US firms in Chinese tech companies.
- by Stephen Bartholomeusz
Opinion
South China Sea
Why Putin is losing his war, and Xi is winning his
Putin chose to launch a kinetic war to expand his territory. Xi chose “grey zone” warfare – distinctly aggressive, but without firing a shot.
- by Peter Hartcher
Albanese overhauls aid program to counter China, flags Xi Jinping meeting
Australia is seeking to offer Pacific and South-East Asian nations an appealing alternative to Beijing’s controversial Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
- by Matthew Knott
A slow recovery: Growers set sights on removal of China’s wine tariff
Wine producers are optimistic China’s wine tariff will be the next to be removed following the backdown on barley, but warn sellers will be cautious about an overreliance on the Chinese market.
- by Amber Schultz and Paul Sakkal
Updated
China
China drops tariffs against Australian barley
The decision puts an end to a three-year-dispute over the $1.2 billion export.
- by Eryk Bagshaw
Remoteness no longer enough: NZ defence needs more money to counter China, climate change
New Zealand’s first national security strategy underscores how China’s rise is upending old norms – even 9000 kilometres away in Wellington.
- by Lewis Jackson and Lucy Craymer
‘Unprecedented’: US sailors charged with selling military secrets to China
Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said last year that the FBI opens a new counterintelligence case against China every 12 hours on average.
- by Peter Martin and Chris Strohm
‘I’m not a trained diplomat, I’m a recovering politician’: Lunch with Barry O’Farrell
The former premier had never lived overseas. Then he became ambassador to India.
- by Matt Wade