China's envoy to Australia says 2 nations at 'new juncture'

China is being overly optimistic, hoping that the new Australian administration will eat from their hand. China believes they are smarter than Australia, but then they feel that way about every country.

It's rather surprising to read this.

Iam sceptical as it sounds too good to be true.

or perhaps there's a hidden agenda by China's sudden change of heart.

Ambassador Xiao Qian gave an upbeat assessment of the potential for the bilateral relationship in a weekend speech to the Australia-China Friendship Society

Just a week after China's attack on an Australian plane in international airspace. I think he is greatly overstating the situation.

“My embassy and the Chinese consulates-general in Australia stand ready to work with the Australian federal government, state governments and friends from all walks of life to move forward the China-Australia relationship along the right track

For two years Australia waited as China refused all minister to minister contacts. There is no way for the relationship to improve without China behaving itself and not expecting Australia to forgo sovereign concerns and act like a vassal of China's.

Chinese diplomacy is infantile and until it matures and treats everyone as equals, not throw tantrums when someone disagrees with it openly, and accepts that democracies have different expectations and behavior to its own autocratic system that hides truth from the public and severely restricts opinions and refuses to allow a free press in China.

I do not see much scope for improvement unless China withdraws the trade barriers it has placed on Australia, which effects both nations.

Having been on the receiving end of Chinese ‘diplomacy’, the Australian electorate has signaled it has no appetite for kowtowing to an aggressive, expansionist China.

A PLAAF fighter dumping Chaff into the engines of an Australian P-8 is a heckuva way to start a relationship with a new Australian administration. The Aussies hopefully told the Chinese ambassador that talk is nice and all but actions are what matter. Adhering to international law as it applies to international waters and airspace is a good place to start.