Why China took Australia out of the diplomatic deep freezer

Chinese president Xi Jinping met with Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese last week. It was a first step in a bid to mend relations between the two countries. China blocked Australian imports of wine, barley, live seafood and beef - among others - in 2020 in response to Australia’s criticism of China in the wake of the pandemic.

We’re joined by Joanna Chiu - a Vancouver-based journalist for the Toronto Star and the author of 'China Unbound - a new world disorder’ to discover why China has taken Australia out of the diplomatic deep freeze.

So what’s behind China’s bid to welcome us back into the fold? Is it simply a change of government? Or is China playing a long game?

Headlines:

- NSW town evacuated as Lachlan River floods
- Seven dead in Walmart shooting in US
- Teenager killed in Jerusalem terror attack
- Scotland blocked from holding second independence vote
- Japan stuns Germany in World Cup upset

Follow The Briefing:

Instagram: @thebriefingpodcast
Facebook: TheBriefingNewsAU
Twitter: @TheBriefingAU

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.