Canberra/Beijing – The conflict between Australia and China has intensified following a complaint from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Australia cancelled a joint research expedition with China in Antarctica, raising the issue of national security. China, which chairs the UNESCO committee, has warned that Australia’s coral reefs should be stripped of their heritage status. Analysts have warned that such clashes will continue in Australia and China in the near future.
Last week, Australia filed a complaint with the WTO against the trade tax imposed by China. As a response, China has also filed a separate petition against Australia. China stated that this step was taken to protect the interests of Chinese companies. The announcement came as Australia declared the cancellation of the joint research expedition to Antarctica.
The operation was called off following a tip-off from the head of the Australian intelligence service. Mike Burgess, director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, has warned that the expedition to Antarctica could help China in submarine warfare. Australian analyst Anthony Bergin has also confirmed the same. The Qingdao Research Institute, which is participating in the research from China, is linked to Chinese naval projects, Bergin said.
The decision of the UNESCO committee came after the announcement of the cancellation of the expedition in Antarctica. In addition, the committee has recommended that the Great Barrier Reef, Australia‘s most famous coral reef, could be dangerous. There have also been indications that the Great Barrier Reef has been stripped of its World Heritage status. China heads this committee. The Australian government has reacted aggressively to the Great Barrier Reef report, accusing it of being politically motivated.
Subsequent developments are signalling a new round of tension between Australia and China. In the last few years, the two countries have been at loggerheads over issues such as 5G technology, Coronavirus pandemic, the South China Sea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The dispute has sparked a trade war between the two countries. China has since been accused of using ‘grey zone warfare’ against Australia.
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