Marles’ China meetings were ‘no secret’

DEPUTY Labor leader and Corio MP Richard Marles has responded to questions about his meetings with Chinese diplomats, calling it nothing but a “desperate and silly” attempt by the Coalition government to distract from its own national security record.

In the past five years, Mr Marles has met with Chinese embassy officials 10 times, an investigation by The Australian revealed on Friday.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has had only two meetings with the previous Chinese ambassador and one with his replacement, since she took over the portfolio in August 2018.

“All of this has got pretty desperate and a bit silly,” Mr Marles said.

“It would be good if the government put as much focus into its relationship in the Pacific as it does into my diary.

“Ultimately, what we’re seeing here is a government which is desperately trying to distract from the fact that it has dropped the ball in the Pacific.”

Mr Marles denied allegations he had given the impression diplomatic relations would improve under a Labor government in conversations with Chinese officials.

He said several of the meetings with Chinese embassy officials were in relation to Labor’s opposition to an extradition treaty with China proposed by the Coalition government.

Senator Sarah Henderson described Mr Marles as a “loose cannon when it comes to the nation’s security”.

“Autocratic governments such as China are causing major security concerns here in Australia but Labor, guided by Richard Marles, seems blind to this destructive influence in our region,” Senator Henderson said.

Scott Morrison weighed in on the issue on Friday, criticising Mr Marles for a “strangely high number of meetings” with Chinese diplomats.

The Labor deputy said the government had been aware of several of the meetings.

IT WOULD BE GOOD IF THE GOVERNMENT PUT AS MUCH FOCUS INTO ITS RELATIONSHIP IN THE PACIFIC AS IT DOES INTO MY DIARY.

RICHARD MARLES