China has defended its alleged ban on Australian coal and accused Australia of playing the victim in the increasingly tense trade standoff between Canberra and Beijing.
There has been no formal notification of the ban, but Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin did not deny its existence when speaking with reporters overnight.
He said recent measures taken by Chinese authorities on “some imported” products from Australia were “responsible” acts and in line with China’s laws and international rules.
“Recently we’ve seen many reports in which Australia dresses up as a victim, pointing an accusing finger at China, directly or by insinuation,” he said.
“This move is meant to confound the public and we will never accept it.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the ban on coal would be a lose-lose for both countries and a clear breach of World Trade Organisation rules.
He also emphasised it would force China to buy dirtier coal from other countries, putting its climate change ambitions at risk.
Resources Minister Keith Pitt on Wednesday told the ABC there remained no official confirmation that the trade ban was in place.
“We have no official notification from China that they have put in place anything that would reflect what is in the media and media speculation,” he said.
However, coal imports from Australia have appeared to face an unofficial ban for some time with reports of a number of bulk carriers carrying Australian coal being left stranded at port.
China has also slapped a series of trade bans and tariffs on Australian goods as diplomatic tensions have intensified in recent months.
Exports of cotton, timber, rock lobster, beef, wine and barley have already been targeted by China this year.
ANU professor John Blaxland of the Strategic and Defence Studies centre told SBS News Australia needed to respond calmly in the face of the trade disputes.
“We need to essentially play with a straight bat,” he said.
“We need to follow the rules – we need to pull our heads in. We need to be circumspect and not to be overly emotive … but we need to stand our ground.”
A freeze on coal exports would threaten to throw Australia’s $14 billion coal export industry to China into turmoil and have significant economic implications for Australia.
China has consistently rejected wrongdoing over the trade disputes instead accusing Australia of “politicising economic, investment and technological issues.”
Mr Wang said Australia had discriminated against Chinese companies in violation of the market economy and international trade rules.
He cited examples of where Chinese companies had been blocked from investing in Australia, including banning Huawei from participating in the roll-out of the 5G network.
Tensions between the countries have appeared to escalate since Australia called for a global inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.
The Australian government has also denied any wrongdoing saying it has simply acted in the country’s national interest.
Additional reporting AAP
