THE SQUIZ

Australia’s relationship with China continues to thaw, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong travelling there today for the first trip by an Aussie Minister since China banned high-level visits from Oz back in 2019. Tomorrow, Wong will mark the 50th anniversary of the China-Australia relationship that former PM Gough Whitlam kick-started in 1972. Last week, PM Anthony Albanese noted there would be “further measures and activities which indicate an improved relationship” in the coming weeks after a “recent constructive meeting” with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Bali summit in November.

WHAT ELSE IS ON THE AGENDA?

A couple of things… The first is working on ending China’s tariffs and bans on $20 billion worth of Aussie exports, including wine, barley and meat, which ramped up after Australia called for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID pandemic. And the 2nd is urging the release of 2 detained Aussies – journalist Cheng Lei and writer Yang Hengjun. Cheng has been in jail since August 2020, and Yang was detained in January 2019 – both have been accused of spying. And there are other tensions… In November 2020, the Chinese embassy listed 14 grievances against Oz, including the ban on telco giant Huawei’s participation in the 5G rollout, foreign investment rules, and criticism of China’s actions in Hong Kong and Taiwan. So yeah, there are a few pots on the boil… But Wong is confident, saying she’ll “encourage China to engage with us in a way that navigates the differences between our interests wisely”.

ISN’T CHINA A BIT DISTRACTED BY COVID?

Not officially… Since lifting some restrictions earlier this month, China has seen a surge in infections, mainly because fewer than half of those aged 80yo or over have been triple-vaxxed. The country is said to be in the first of 3 COVID waves expected between now and March 2023, putting more pressure on the nation’s already struggling hospitals. For its part, the Chinese Government insists COVID is entering its “last stage” and will soon become a manageable seasonal illness. But others think there will be a high number of deaths before then… The US-based Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation reckons cases there will peak in April, and more than a million people could die from COVID in 2023 from its 1.4 billion population. As of yesterday, China’s official COVID death toll stood at 5,235 people, despite reports that funeral and cremation services are struggling to keep up with calls.