US President Joe Biden has said three times over the past year that the US would defend Taiwan with military force but officials in his administration have insisted each time there was no change in the deliberate ambiguity about how the US would respond.
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Xiao, who arrived in Canberra in April after four years in Indonesia and a long career in the diplomatic service, portrayed China as a stabilizing force in world affairs and a partner for Australia.
“When we cooperate we both win, when we don’t we both lose,” he said.
Asked about China’s intentions towards Taiwan, Xiao did not accept the proposition that the people of Taiwan should have a say in the outcome.
“The future of Taiwan will be decided by 1.4 billion Chinese people. At the same time I believe that the majority of the people in Taiwan believe they are Chinese,” he said.
“They believe Taiwan is part of China and Taiwan is a province of China. They are for reunification.”
In fact, the majority have favored some form of the status quo in surveys over two decades, according to the National Chengchi University’s Election Study Center. Its June survey found that 28.6 per cent said they wanted to “maintain the status quo indefinitely” and 28.3 per cent wanted the status quo to continue until a later date, while 25.2 per cent wanted to move toward independence.
Asked if China would re-educate the people of Taiwan after unification, Xiao said: “My personal understanding is that once Chinese Taiwan comes back to the motherland, there might be a process for the people of Taiwan to have a correct understanding of China. ”
He denied there was any re-education of people in Xinjiang despite reports from Human Rights Watch about the use of forced detention, torture and “political education camps” against the mostly Muslim population of the region in western China.
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Asked about the Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who has been detained in China for two years on vague national security claims, the ambassador acknowledged there were Australians in detention but said: “They are under custody according to Chinese laws and their basic rights are well protected , don’t worry about that.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong raised concerns about Cheng and an Australian writer Yang Hengjun when she met her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Bali on July 8.
Xiao confirmed the interception of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 surveillance plane by a Chinese J-16 fighter on May 26 – an incident that included the release of aluminum “chaff” that could have damaged the Australian aircraft – and defended it as a warning to stay away from Chinese territory.
“Just like you’re in your house, within your compound, somebody is driving around carrying a gun and trying to beat into your window, see what you’re doing with your family … you’re entitled to feel threatened, feel uncomfortable, ” he said.
“So you have to come out and tell those people to keep distant.”
He downplayed the chances of a meeting between Albanese and Xi at the G20 in Bali later this year, saying it would happen when there was confidence in a more positive relationship.
“As ambassador, I’m hoping for the best. And I’m going to make my own efforts toward that direction.”
Japanese ambassador Shingo Yamagami said he was “a bit surprised and concerned” at the remarks from his Chinese counterpart that missed an opportunity to reset relations.
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“I’m concerned at the increasingly loose usage of words,” Yamagami told journalists in the press gallery of Parliament House after watching Xiao’s speech.
“I think ‘use of force’ is the last word to be employed by diplomats, agents of peace. We are here to de-escalate tensions across the Taiwan Strait yet we are seeing an escalation of tensions. I’m increasingly worried.”
Japan was also concerned that Xiao claimed missiles fell into disputed waters when Japan claims those waters as part of its exclusive economic zone.
“How come missiles have to be shot across Taiwan into the East China Sea in response to a US politician’s visit to Taipei? I just cannot get it,” Yamagami said.
“This is the water between Taiwan and Japanese islands off the coast of Okinawa – it is the Japanese side of the median line. We are convinced five missiles landed in Japanese waters.”
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.