<AU BREAKNEWS=Eddy Kim>
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▲ World diplomats are paying keen attention to Australia and New Zealand's diplomatic moves to China. © Australia BreakNews
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World diplomats are paying keen attention to Australia's anti-China moves.
As the U.S.-China hegemony war intensifies, the U.S. and China are forcing countries to stand in line. Among them, Australia and New Zealand are doing the opposite even though they are members of Five Eyes.
Five Eyes is the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. England and the countries that were once colonies of England. They are allied with each other and share confidential information. Therefore, they are the core of the U.S.-centered Western alliance.
However, even though it is a five-eyes country, Australia chooses to be friendly and New Zealand chooses to be friendly. Especially, New Zealand's pro-China activities are amazing. The trade minister even said, "Australia should respect China."
Recently, China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement. New Zealand Trade Minister Damien O'Connor said at the signing ceremony of the FTA with Wang Wen Tao, head of China's commerce department, on the 27th, "If Australia respects China, makes diplomatic efforts, and is careful with expressions like New Zealand, it will achieve similar results.
Unlike other Five Eyes member countries, New Zealand has refrained from criticizing China as much as possible. Some in the West criticize New Zealand for prioritizing economic benefits over democratic values.
In any case, relations between China and New Zealand are cruising, such as signing an FTA, but Australia's relationship with China is reaching its worst.
Australia was the first to agree with the U.S. when the U.S. raised the Covid-19 "China's Responsibility" following the exclusion of Chinese telecommunication equipment maker Huawei from the 5G mobile network construction project following the U.S. recommendation.
As Australia is clearly on the side of the United States, China is retaliating relentlessly. China has banned imports of raw materials such as iron ore from Australia, banned travel to Australia and banned studying abroad. In addition, China is thoroughly punishing Australia by imposing high tariffs on Australian wines.
Previously, Australia was enjoying its biggest post-war boom due to China's special demand. China imported a large number of Australian raw materials, dispatched large-scale tourists and international students, and invested heavily in Australian real estate.
In short, Australia has been living because of China. As Australia is clearly on the side of the U.S., China is waging a wave of influence. Australia's economy is facing its biggest post-war crisis due to China's series of retaliatory measures.
Most Asian countries rely on the United States for security and China for the economy. If the two countries start lining up, they will be in trouble. I want to be on the side of the U.S., but I am afraid of China's economic retaliation. Most Asian countries have this dilemma.
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▲ Concerns are rising that China's strong resistance to high-altitude missiles could revive again. © Australia BreakNews
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South Korea was the first country to pay for being on the U.S. side. South Korea deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in 2016. China has repeatedly retaliated. Even now, the Korean law has not been completely resolved.
However, the problem is that the U.S.-China line-up will be in full swing in the future. Even before taking office, the Biden administration has repeatedly vowed to join forces to surround China.
In fact, the Trump administration's sanctions against China were sloppy. They focused only on economic benefits, so they did not care about human rights at all. All he had to do was give Trump money.
However, the Democratic Party of Korea's government values democratic values such as human rights. The Biden administration is expected to raise the human rights issue that Trump has overlooked in earnest. The Biden government is working hard on this, as President Biden's inauguration is a "democratic summit."
Biden is expected to surround China through a democratic summit with a coalition of nations that share democratic values. In the process, the United States will force Asian empires to choose between the United States and China.
Korea follows the United States blindly like Australia. Although the government is criticized for taking care of the economy like New Zealand or whether it should carry out pragmatic diplomacy, it is just around the corner.
news2020@aubreaknews.com
