Diplomatic Row Breaks Out Over Australia’s ‘Irresponsible’ Attack On China Aid

Another diplomatic row has broken out between Australia and China, with Beijing lodging a formal protest over an Australian Federal Government frontbencher’s attack on its Pacific aid programmes. International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells heaped scorn on Beijing’s burgeoning aid expenditure in the Pacific, accusing it of funding “roads to nowhere” and “useless buildings”.

Australian officials have been watching China’s moves in the region warily, and say it has been using concessional loans and aid payments to bolster its influence. But China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang called the Minister’s comments “nothing but irresponsible” and said they showed “scant regard for the facts”.

“The assistance provided by China has significantly fuelled the economic and social development of these countries and delivered tangible benefits to the local people, which has been warmly welcomed by the governments and people of these countries,” he said.

“We hope that certain people in Australia should engage in self refection instead of pointing fingers at and making irresponsible remarks on other countries.” He said China had “lodged representations” with the Australian Government on the issue. Some analysts were surprised that Senator Fierravanti-Wells used such blunt language in her critique of China.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says she is worried about China’s approach in the Pacific.