An Australian foreign ministry official said Wong had warned the reforms would “further erode rights and freedoms”, breach international commitments and have “far-reaching impacts, including on individuals in Australia”.
The remarks are unlikely to have gone down well with Wong’s Chinese guest.
Beijing has described similar criticism from Britain, the United States and the European Union as “slandering and smearing”.
As the foreign ministers met, protesters gathered on the lawns of Australia’s parliament, drawing attention to alleged human rights abuses within China.
A small group of demonstrators later clashed with police outside the Chinese embassy, brandishing Tibetan flags and shouting “free Tibet” as they rushed towards the building’s front gates.
TRADE RESTRICTIONS
Australia’s relationship with China began unravelling in 2018, when Canberra excluded telecommunications giant Huawei from its 5G network on security grounds and later passed laws on foreign interference.
Then in 2020, Australia called for an international investigation into the origins of COVID-19 – an action China saw as politically motivated.
In response, Beijing slapped trade restrictions on a slew of Australian exports, including barley, beef and wine, while halting its coal imports.
Most of those barriers have been gradually wound back as relations have been repaired.
Wang said a final decision on ending wine tariffs would be made at the end of the month, signalling restrictions could soon be lifted.
Before the trade restrictions were imposed, China was the largest destination for Australian bottled wine – accounting for 33 per cent of export revenue in 2020, according to Australian government data.
Wong said the talks had also touched on the global nickel market, which has been upended by a surge in exports from Indonesia – enabled by massive Chinese investments and a revolution in refining techniques.
Prices have fallen about 40 per cent in the past year alone, prompting many once-dominant Australian firms to rethink projects or write down the value of their assets.
Wang later told an Australia-China business council that common interests between the two countries far outweigh their differences.
“China is Australia’s largest trading partner and the biggest customer for our products like iron ore”, said Rio Tinto mining executive and meeting participant Simon Trott, welcoming a “stabilisation” of relations.
Source: CNA
