Sarah Ferguson, Host: Penny Wong, welcome to 7.30.
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good to be with you.
Ferguson: We saw a very different scene to the one described there. Why has it taken so long to have a PNG Prime Minister address us?
Foreign Minister: Well, that’s probably a question about our history, isn’t it? But what I can say is, I thought that was a wonderful speech today, a really important moment for our nation as well as for Papua New Guinea. It was gracious and respectful, it taught us something about us, who we are. It taught us about Papua New Guinea and it taught us about our shared history. So, I thought it’s a beginning of a different stage in our relationship and I was very humbled to be witness to it.
Ferguson: Now, only a few months ago, we understand that PNG was reportedly considering an offer from the Chinese to assist with policing, I think is the phrase that was used. How would Australia respond to Chinese police running operations with our closest neighbour?
Foreign Minister: Well, the first point I’d make is that the Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko has clarified those remarks. But more broadly, I think I said at the National Press Club last year, China will continue to be China and it’s a great power. It will continue to assert its interests and utilise its power to press for those interests. And clearly it sees one of those interests as engaging in the security sector in the Pacific, including policing. We saw under the Morrison Government, the Solomon Islands arrangement, and we continue to see Chinese police in the Solomon Islands.
Ferguson: But if –
Foreign Minister: Australia’s position is that the stability of the Pacific is best served by these security needs being provided within the Pacific family.
Ferguson: Let me talk some more about China. Dr. Yang Hengjun’s suspended sentence was really a frightening development. Have you spoken to his family?
Foreign Minister: Not as yet. I obviously have previously and remain very willing to engage when they are ready, and I can imagine they are extremely distressed, as I said on the day, and that it was harrowing news.
Ferguson: Were you blindsided by it?
Foreign Minister: Look, I think we made clear the verdict we thought was appalling. As the Prime Minister said, we were outraged and we will continue to advocate for that and be frank in our views about that sentence. And we will not forget Dr. Yang.
Ferguson: Now, at the same time, I think the question is, what is this sentence trying to do? I mean, there’s clearly been some reporting in China that there are harsher sentences, particularly within the apparatus of the Chinese security services. So, is this exceptionally hard sentence also about sending a message to people who would criticise the regime, or is it in any way targeted at Australia? Do you know any more about why it came about?
Foreign Minister: I don’t think it’s helpful to Dr. Yang, or necessarily for Australia’s national interest, for the Foreign Minister to engage in those sorts of hypotheticals. What I would say is this – it’s obviously a very different legal system. We in Australia have a view about the sentence. We think it is appalling and we have expressed that view very clearly. We will obviously continue to engage to support Dr. Yang, provide him with consular support, make representations about his condition and his medical treatment and so forth.
Ferguson: You said it was harrowing. It’s not language we’re used to hearing from you.
Foreign Minister: Well, it was.
Ferguson: It was harrowing.
Foreign Minister: I think so. I think we all know Australians have a view about the death penalty and to have an Australian subject to suspend a death penalty, I think people were shocked.
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Source: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Speaker: Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Format: Interview
China Policy Research 