Everybody is selling things to China, and China is selling things to everybody. So the fact that Australia is selling stuff to China and about to increase its sale of wine to China is not exceptional.
The question is why Australia is about to sell—is now being allowed, by China, to sell—more wine to China. And the answer is that Australia’s relationship with China has improved.
In 2020, Austro-China diplomatic relations crumpled because, reports The Diplomat, Australia backed an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. China, which is touchy about references to how it inflicted the COVID-19 scourge on the world, imposed punishing tariffs on imports of Australian wine. Australian sales of wine to the Chinese market plummeted.
Now things are better. He Yadong, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Commerce, says China is ready to work with Australia on concerns.
“We are willing to work with Australia to resolve each other’s concerns through dialogue and consultation and jointly promote the stable and healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations.”
The relationship between Australia and China has improved. But why would the government of a somewhat free-ish (at least, post-pandemic) country that is not a totalitarian dictatorship be doing anything to improve its relations with a giant totalitarian dictatorship that is relentless in its efforts to oppress and dominate? In order to sell more wine?
What are the concerns that are on their way to being resolved? I would like to see the list of concerns that each country has about the other country. I’m more interested in Australia’s list about China.
