Australia's Bishop to visit China, Indonesia amid tensions over ADIZ and spying
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop wants to repair strained ties with two countries
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will hold talks with Indonesia on Thursday to help repair ties strained by a spying row and draw up a code of ethics to govern relations.
The nation’s top diplomat will also visit China, where relations are likewise on edge after Canberra’s criticism of Beijing’s new air defence identification zone, which covers East China Sea islands disputed with Japan.
“The minister will lead a high level delegation to Jakarta for broad-ranging discussions about the bilateral relationship, following President (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono’s recent statement,” her office said.
Reports last month that Australian spies tried to tap the phones of Yudhoyono, his wife and his inner circle in 2009 sparked one of the worst diplomatic crises between the two strategic allies in years.
Jakarta reacted furiously, ending cooperation on military exercises and in the key area of people-smuggling while recalling its ambassador from Canberra.
Tensions calmed after Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott sent Yudhoyono a letter of explanation, with the two leaders agreeing that top-level envoys would discuss protocols and a code of ethics to govern relations that were “clear, fair and abided to”.
Abbott has also suggested a security roundtable to build trust.
