《TAIPEI TIMES》Australia: Chinese exit over Taiwan

The Australian Labor Party holds its 50th national conference in Adelaide on Thursday. Photo: Screen grab from Australian Senator Raff Ciccone’s X account

BOUNDARIES: The ALP’s decision to make it clear Taiwanese officials could stay was the right response and parties are not bound by Australia’s ‘one China’ policy, an expert said

By Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNA Chinese diplomats on Thursday walked out of the Australian Labor Party’s （ALP） national conference after complaining about the presence of Taiwanese officials, the Australian Broadcasting Corp （ABC） reported.

Three Chinese diplomats observing the conference approached ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson and demanded that two officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia — Taiwan’s de facto embassy — be removed from the venue, the report said.

The Taiwanese officials were attending as general observers rather than as “international observers,” a category that includes foreign diplomats and representatives of political parties from many countries, it said.

Erickson “made it clear” that the Taiwanese officials were entitled to attend as observers and could stay, the report said.

“The Chinese delegation left the venue in the hours after the exchange, and did not join other foreign diplomats and political representatives watching the conference that afternoon,” ABC reported, citing multiple sources.

It was “obvious” that China had effectively staged a walkout, an ALP delegate told ABC.

“They lodge a protest, and then they leave — it’s clearly a signal,” the delegate was quoted as saying.

An ALP spokesperson declined to say if the delegation had given a reason for leaving, saying it was a question for the Chinese embassy, the report said.

The Chinese embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to ABC’s requests for comment.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office said Taiwan and Australia share democratic values and maintain a close, long-term partnership across a wide range of fields.

The office said it has consistently sought to enhance engagement with all sectors of Australian society and exchange views on issues of mutual concern.

Taiwan works closely with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region to counter disinformation, address hybrid threats and respond to geopolitical challenges to bolster democracy and societal resilience while ensuring that Taiwan’s voice is heard and valued internationally, it said.

The office declined to comment on the Chinese diplomats’ objections or the ALP’s handling of the matter.

Nothing in Australia’s “one China” policy prevents political parties such as the ALP from allowing Taiwanese observers to attend their events, University of Tasmania Chinese studies senior lecturer Mark Harrison said.

“Our one China policy applies to the national government — a political party is not bound by it,” Harrison was quoted as saying.

“If a political party wants to give an opportunity for an external group to observe, then it’s entirely appropriate to do so,” he said. “And given the deep trade complementarity [between Australia and Taiwan] it is entirely appropriate for these opportunities to be offered and taken advantage of.”

Erickson’s reaction was “an appropriate response to the effort by the Chinese side” to shape the ALP’s decisions, Harrison said.

“It’s important from the Australian side that government and other organizations subject to that effort understand the importance of setting clear boundaries,” he added.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES