This is CBS I on the World with John Bachelor.

Here's John Bachelor.

To Perth Western Australia, a visit by the Chinese Premier Li Chang, speaking of the need to boost

bilateral ties between China and Australia.

Puzzling, I welcome Gregory Coppley,

editor and publisher of Defense and Foreign Affairs,

a native of Perth Western Australia who can help me understand that 10 minutes ago

China was canceling everything to do with Australia and was roaring and threatening pose towards the Australian government, the Australian people,

even Australian wine Gregory was banned in Beijing.

So what's changed?

Good evening to you.

Good evening John. Well what's changed of course is that this is a US presidential

election year and Beijing thinks that it can really make hay in the Indo-Pacific while the US is

preoccupied at home. Now that's partially true and it's also accelerated by the

fact that the Albanese government, the government of Australia

under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is very sympathetic towards Beijing and very

soft on the PRC and Beijing doubtless sees this as an opportunity.

As well Australia is one of the trading partners with the PRC which has what the PRC wants and that's namely high quality

iron ore for example but also a range of other minerals and energy and the like but particularly agricultural products.

Now it's interesting that Lee-chan stopped in Canberra where he met in Parliament and met with key players including the Prime Minister.

And a Chinese journalist who's now in exile in Australia was trying to get airtime if you like at the

press conference and Chinese embassy officials crowded in front of him to make sure that he couldn't get

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