RT.com
19 Sep 2023, 05:14 GMT+10
Beijing is pursuing a ?divide and conquer? strategy as it cultivates ties with Canberra, Taipei's envoy has claimed
Taiwan has warned Australia to be wary of a rapprochement with China, claiming that President Xi Jinping could be attempting to drive a wedge between Western countries.
In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age published on Monday, Douglas Hsu, who was recently appointed as Taiwan's chief representative to Canberra, warned that Xi may have a "hidden agenda" in bilateral relations.
Insisting that he has nothing against improved ties between China and Australia, and that he understands the desire to ramp up trade, Hsu urged Canberra to look beyond what he called the "rosy pictures" painted by Xi about bilateral relations.
"Their strategy is basically divide and conquer," the envoy argued. "We don't want to see a very troublesome world, but we have to keep in mind and look at the track record that Beijing has."
Hsu also complained about what he described as "more aggressive behaviors from China" in recent years. The comments came after Taiwanese defense officials said they had registered more than 103 aircraft belonging to Beijing's military operating near the island between Sunday and Monday.
The Taiwanese envoy further urged Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to use his upcoming visit to China to send a clear message that Canberra would not accept any "unilateral change to the status quo by force" in the Taiwan Strait.
Earlier this month, Australia and China held their first high-level dialogue in several years after a period of decline in relations which saw Canberra enter into a partnership with the US and UK to procure nuclear-powered submarines.
The security situation around Taiwan - which China considers part of its sovereign territory - has been marked by heightened tensions, with Beijing staging regular military exercises in the region in recent months. Last year, Xi said that while China wants peaceful reunification with the island, it would not rule out the use of force.
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Beijing Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Beijing Bulletin.
More InformationOttawa, Ontario - The potential threat posed by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) means safeguards need to be ...
Tel Aviv [Israel], November 27 (ANI): In a live chat on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) with Israel's Prime ...
Washington DC [US], November 27 (ANI): A spokesperson for US tech conglomerate Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has been ...
Russia has added the spokesperson of U.S. tech giant Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, to a wanted list, according ...
GENEVA - As he sits in Geneva, Michel Dreifuss does not feel all that far away from the Hamas attack ...
BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China's software and information technology service industry reported double-digit growth in revenue and profits in ...
NEW DELHI, India: On November 24, the Economic Times (ET) reported that Tesla is ready to invest up to $2 ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks closed in positive territory despite a volatile day Tuesday. Spending much time in ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: On November 24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled three more brands of whole and pre-cut ...
DETROIT, Michigan: US electric vehicle (EV) sales are expected to reach a record of 9% of all passenger vehicles this ...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks closed marginally lower as traders returned to their desks Monday following the Thanksgiving ...
OMAHA, Nebraska: On November 21, Warren Buffett announced a donation of Berkshire Hathaway stocks worth some US$866 million to four ...