China’s Belt and Road Initiative faces fresh challenge from Australian laws on investment deals
- Legislation passed by Canberra could derail projects linked to China’s international connectivity scheme
- China’s foreign ministry says it hopes Australia will behave in an ‘objective and rational manner’
Frigid ties between the two countries slipped lower this week with the passage of laws on Tuesday that could allow Australia’s foreign ministry to scrap agreements made between local authorities and foreign states.
A 2018 memorandum of understanding between the Victoria state government and Beijing is likely to be the first to hit the chopping block when the laws come into effect next year.
China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday sought to defend its global infrastructure and development plan and the deal signed with Victoria.
“The cooperation between China and Victoria under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to enhancing the well-being of the people on both sides,” ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a press conference.
While legislative matters were Australia’s “internal affairs”, China hoped Canberra would behave in an “objective and rational manner”, he said.
“I want to emphasise that the hard-earned results of cooperation between China and Australia in the fields of economy, trade, humanities and localities over the years are in the common interests of both parties.”
