Australia’s ambassador to China declines invite to Xi Jinping’s mega military parade in Beijing
While former Labor state premiers will attend a mega military parade in China, Australia’s ambassador will not.
Australia’s ambassador to China will not be attending Xi Jinping’s mega military parade in Beijing marking 80 years since the end of World War II.
The guest list is long with autocrats and dictators, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and even the head of Myanmar’s brutal military junta, Min Aung Hlaing.
NewsWire understands Australia’s envoy, Scott Dewar, was invited to Wednesday’s parade but declined.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.However, Australia will be sending the embassy’s defence attaché and political counsellor.
Among those who will appear are former Labor premiers Dan Andrews and Bob Carr, who was also foreign minister to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.
Their plans to attend have raised eyebrows on Capital Hill.
As private citizens, both Mr Andrews and Mr Carr are free to attend without Canberra’s sign-off and NewsWire understands the Albanese government was not consulted.
Labor has been hesitant to weigh in.
But Sussan Ley on Wednesday called for the former officials “to explain why they’re attending a military parade that Vladimir Putin is attending and what that actually tells the world”.
More than 10,000 troops are taking part in the military parade, according to Chinese state media.
The parade is also set to feature more than 100 aircraft and hundreds of pieces of ground equipment, with analysts saying the scale is designed to showcase China’s military modernisation and strength amid soaring tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
More to come.
Originally published as Australian ambassador to skip China military parade
