Spat with Australia escalates as China suspends key pact

BEIJING: China on Thursday “indefinitely” suspended all activity under a China-australia economic dialogue mechanism, the latest sign of increasingly strained diplomatic ties between Beijing and Canberra.

The dialogue is jointly held by China’s top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and ministries of the Australian government.

“The decision was made based on the current attitude of the Australian Commonwealth government towards China-australia cooperation,” the NDRC wrote on its website.

“Recently, some Australian Commonwealth government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination,” the statement said. It did not say what specific reasons or measures taken by Canberra made NDRC take the decision.

The suspension was a “necessary and legitimate” response to Australia “abusing” the concept of national security to pressure cooperation with China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said.

In Canberra, an Australian minister said Beijing’s decision was disappointing. “We remain open to holding the dialogue and engaging at the ministerial level,” trade minister Dan Tehan said, Reuters reported.

Beijing slams G7’s stand

China has condemned a joint statement by G7 foreign ministers, which expressed support for Taiwan, saying it was a gross interference in China’s internal affairs. In Beijing, Wang said the statement had made “groundless accusations”.