Six federal politicians from both Labor and the Coalition will travel to Taiwan next week, in the first visit from an Australian parliamentary delegation in years.
Key points:
- Mr Albanese says visits to Taiwan by backbenchers are not unusual
- He says Australia's position on China and Taiwan remains bipartisan
- Some of the delegation heading to Taiwan are reluctant to drum up publicity, noting political sensitivities
The trip has been organised by Liberal MP Scott Buchholz, and will also include former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, and Labor MPs Meryl Swanson and Libby Coker.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has played down the significance of the trip, noting politicians visiting Taiwan is not unusual.
"There have been backbench visits to Taiwan for a long time, this is another one," he said.
"This isn't a government visit.
"There remains a bipartisan position when it comes to China and when it comes to support for the status quo on Taiwan."
Some of those heading to Taiwan are reluctant to drum up publicity around the visit, noting the political sensitivities.
But they say it is important Australia maintains a close relationship with both mainland China and Taiwan, and be supportive of democracy in the region.
Asked about the intentions of the trip, Mr Albanese said he was not involved.
"I have no idea, I'm not going," he said.
One member of the travelling party said both the government and opposition were informed of the trip, and were "supportive".
The group will fly out on Sunday.
A visit to Taiwan from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2021 attracted fierce criticism from Chinese officials.
Mr Abbott used the trip to suggest that "nothing is more pressing right now than solidarity with Taiwan".
The latest trip is being welcomed by some security analysts, arguing stabilising Australia's relationship with China means maintaining a normal relationship with Taiwan too.
Michael Shoebridge from Strategic Analysis Australia said making the visit appear routine is the right approach.
"Not announcing this visit before it was just about to happen, and the Prime Minister being quite low-key about it, is matching calmness with Beijing's fury," he said.
"Beijing wants to make it hard to engage Taiwan politically. We need to make it easy."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIyLTEyLTAzL2F1c3RyYWxpYW4tbXBzLXRvLXZpc2l0LXRhaXdhbi1wYXJsaWFtZW50YXJ5LWRlbGVnYXRpb24vMTAxNzMwOTUw0gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMTczMDk1MA?oc=5
2022-12-03 04:54:31Z
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