China Pressures Australia Ahead of 'Australia-US Annual Ministerial Meeting'

China's State-run Global Times Replaces Australian Beef with New Zealand Beef
Australian Foreign and Defense Ministers Discuss Indo-Pacific Issues Including South China Sea with US Counterparts

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China's state-run Global Times reported on the 28th that there are concerns about the intensification of the boycott movement against Australian products, and that Chinese beef importers are seeking alternative import countries. The newspaper pointed to New Zealand as a country to replace Australia.

China has previously banned imports of Australian beef and imposed high tariffs on Australian agricultural products such as barley as retaliation for Australia's political actions, including the responsibility theory for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and opposition to the Hong Kong National Security Law.

An official from a Chinese importing company headquartered in Shanghai said, "As relations between China and Australia deteriorate, importers are becoming anxious," adding, "We are looking for exporters other than Australia." The Global Times added that this company imported 300 tons of Australian beef last year.

The newspaper reported that China is facing a situation where it must increase imports of American agricultural products according to the Phase One agreement of the US-China trade negotiations. It explained that with the structure where imports of Australian agricultural products inevitably decrease and a boycott movement against Australian agricultural products also arises, Australia's damage is unavoidable.

Hu Qimu, a senior researcher at the Sinosteel Economic Research Institute, said, "If tensions between China and Australia continue, Australia will lose the large market of China," and that Australia is caught in a dilemma.

The newspaper reported that in the case of New Zealand, geographic and climatic conditions are similar to Australia, making it possible to replace Australian beef and other agricultural and livestock products.

The Global Times added that as of last year, the trade volume between China and New Zealand increased by 8.5% compared to the previous year to $18.29 billion, with China accounting for 23% of New Zealand's exports.

The Global Times' report on this day is seen as a card to pressure Australia, given that it came ahead of the Australia-US Annual Ministerial Meeting (AUSMIN).

Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defense Minister Linda Reynolds are currently in the United States for talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the same day that the Australia-US Annual Ministerial Meeting will discuss current issues such as the responsibility theory for COVID-19, the South China Sea issue, the Hong Kong National Security Law issue, and cyberattacks.

Before departure, Australian Foreign Minister Payne mentioned the agenda of the talks, saying, "We will address strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific and advance shared interests."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.