"China wants a world where the Chinese Communist Party's role is unchallenged and uncriticised,"he said."Confrontation is a useful instrument for the Chinese[government] up to a point,but then stepping back and being conciliatory is also part of the strategy."
Fu Ying,China's former ambassador to Australia, called for an end to"confrontation and abusive language"on Monday. Her comments were the second overture to Australian officials in as many months after Deputy Head of Mission Wang Xining said in August the two countries should not let"a cold,hard mind cast a shadow over our partnership".
China hit Australia with multiple trade strikes this year after Australia led calls for an independent inquiry into the pandemic's origins and raised concerns about the crackdown in Hong Kong,incursions in the South China Sea and treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang. It also spearheaded restrictions on Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.
Fu toldThe Australian Financial Reviewon Monday that"both countries need to show their sincerity and courage to get out of the current dilemma".
Raby said taken together,the Wang and Fu statements were a signal to Canberra that Beijing wanted to reassess the relationship.
"I would say we should respond accordingly,"said Raby,who runs a business advisory firm in Beijing."Others would say this is a perfectly satisfactory situation and there is no reason to walk back."