Wong speech disrupted by Chinese officials attempting to remove Australian journalists
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's speech in Beijing was disrupted when Chinese officials attempted to remove Australian journalists and obstructed filming. Despite the interference, the media remained until Wong finished her remarks on energy security and Australia-China trade. The incident occurred during a high-level meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng amid ongoing tensions over fuel exports. This follows a prior similar incident involving Australian journalist Cheng Lei in Canberra.
- ▪Chinese officials tried to remove Australian journalists and blocked the government cameraman from filming Penny Wong’s speech in Beijing.
- ▪Wong delivered her remarks despite the disruption, emphasizing the importance of energy supply and bilateral trade amid the Middle East conflict.
- ▪China has restricted fuel and fertilizer exports since the Iran war, affecting Australia and other Asian nations like the Philippines.
- ▪China may soon lift its de facto fuel export ban, with state oil companies applying for May export permits, according to the Financial Times.
- ▪A similar incident occurred in June 2024 when a Chinese official obstructed journalist Cheng Lei during a meeting between Albanese and Li Qiang in Australia.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.
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