CANBERRA, Australia (AP) 鈥 China鈥檚 ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, sought to reassure Wednesday that China鈥檚 increased involvement in the Pacific, particularly in policing efforts, should not be a cause of alarm for Australia.
Xiao, speaking at his first news conference of the year in Canberra on Wednesday, maintained that Australia should not harbor anxiety about China's intentions in the region.
鈥淧acific Islands countries is an area where China and Australia can cooperate and can contribute together instead of asking them to choose between the two," Xiao said. 鈥淲hat China has been doing is to help them to for their social stability, economic development and for bilateral trade relations."
Concerns of China鈥檚 encroachment in the South Pacific had escalated last year when the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China, in the region.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not seeking military strategies, we鈥檙e not seeking military purposes, and there鈥檚 no need for any so-called anxiety on the part of Australia,鈥 Xiao said.
Addressing , Xiao said it was a sovereign choice by Nauru and would not impact Australia鈥檚 relations with the small island nation.
鈥淭he relation between China and Nauru is a reflection of the overwhelming, increasing consensus in the international community that in this world, there鈥檚 only one China, and Taiwan is part of China."
Regarding Australia-China relations, Xiao acknowledged that ties had stabilized after in November, marking the first by an Australian leader in seven years and the lifting of trade blocks imposed in 2020 on a raft of Australian exports.
He expressed China鈥檚 desire 鈥榯o continue the good momentum鈥 in further improving the relationship, while also highlighting the need for collaboration in the defense sector.
鈥淭he defense relationship between our two countries is an area really we need to put more inputs and work harder on, Xiao said. 鈥漈his is an area it鈥檚 so important to the mutual trust and confidence between our two countries and two peoples. If you can have trust between two militaries, you do have real trust."
Xiao added that China had lodged a diplomatic protest with Australia over its congratulations to .
___
Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at
