Australia Seeks to Break China Coal Stalemate as Tensions Rise
Article summary
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he’s appointed his “best people” to work on breaking a stalemate that’s seen more than 50 ships laden with Australian coal stranded off Chinese ports, as tensions between the trading partners increase. We will work the process through with the Chinese government to get the best possible outcome that we can,” Morrison said in an with Nine Network television. […] Read more on Australia-China ties: China Blacklist Strands More Than 50 Australia Coal Cargoes U.S. , China Shouldn’t Force Others to Choose Sides: Morrison China-Australia Spat Strands 400 Seafarers as Human Crisis Looms Australia Seeks to Build Defense Ties to Counter China Squeeze Morrison Defiant After China Airs 14 Grievances With Australia China, which said Wednesday that the coal shipments were delayed due to strengthening of examination and testing of the imports, has become increasingly vocal in recent weeks in saying Australia is to blame for strained ties. […] Beijing toned down that rhetoric somewhat this week after a speech by Morrison in which he said that Australia did not seek to contain China economically, and that China had pulled more people out of poverty than any other nation. […] Of course we want happy co-existence and positive relationship with China,” Morrison said on Thursday, adding that it was “not simple” to walk a middle path between China and the U.S. “But we also have a wonderful alliance with the U.S. and a friendship with them as like-minded countries with a similar outlook with liberal democratic values,” he said.
