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Chinese envoy publishes article emphasizing 'China and Australia are friends, not foes'

Global Times

By Yu Xi Published: Jun 30, 2025 10:53 PM

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian published an article in the opinion section of The Australian on Monday, emphasizing that "China and Australia are friends, not foes," strongly refuting recent attempts by some countries to hype up the so-called "China threat," according to a release posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Australia on Monday.

The article, entitled "China and Australia are friends, not foes: This should never have been in question," said that recently, some countries hyped up the so-called "China threat" narrative on such occasions as the Shangri-La Dialogue, G7 Summit, and NATO Summit, proclaiming to significantly increase defense expenditures, and even "incited Australia to follow suit."

"Such rhetoric and actions are steeped in Cold War mentality, blatantly creating division, fueling a global arms race as well as threatening world peace and stability, which warrants our high vigilance," Xiao said in the article.

He emphasized that China and Australia are important economic and trade partners, with "highly complementary economic structures."

"Dramatically increasing military spending places a heavy fiscal burden on the countries involved, undermining their efforts to boost economies and improve livelihoods, and further straining a global economy already struggling with weak recovery," Xiao said.

As I often hear from Australian friends,"we have hundreds of reasons to be friends, and none to be enemies," Xiao wrote in the article.

Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University, said that the op-ed is very timely and well-reasoned, expressing China's policies and position with lucid logic.

The root of the "China threat" narrative lies in the hegemonic logic of the US. Some Western countries led by the US have long viewed their own systems as universal models, thereby amplifying ideological and developmental differences. These Western countries manufacture external threats to divert attention from their domestic problems, said Chen.

Australia's economy remains in a state of stagnation. It needs to focus on delivering real economic outcomes, rather than simply following the strategic ambitions of the US, said Chen. China-Australia relations have been steadily improving, with cooperation between the two sides continue to improve in areas such as economy, education, and tourism, according to Chen.