Opinion

Xi got his message across, but calls to oppose protectionism are a bit rich

Australia is right to rail against Donald Trump’s tariffs, but we should also make our voice heard on Xi Jinping’s “China First” policies.

Richard McGregorColumnist

Nov 19, 2024 – 1.43pm

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It was only a short meeting – 30 minutes through interpreters, which means barely 15 minutes – but Xi Jinping got his message across when he met Anthony Albanese in Brazil overnight on Tuesday.

Apart from the usual bromides about “mutual respect”, Xi called on Albanese to join forces with China in opposing “protectionism” before Donald Trump takes the White House early next year.

Richard McGregor is a senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney.