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Australia says China unresponsive to its pleas to ease tensions

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Lidia Kelly, Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/reuters/06/08/hk.jpg"/><figcaption>A man wears mask to prevent a new coronavirus outbreak as he uses his mobile, with skyline in the background of Hong Kong, China, Jan. 29, 2020. Tyrone Siu, Reuters/File</figcaption></figure></div>MELBOURNE - Australia said Monday China remained unresponsive to its weeks-long pleas to ease tensions between the 2 trading partners that escalated after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.Australia has insisted the call for an independent investigation into the pandemic, which it says most likely originated in a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, was not politically targeted at Beijing.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/23/20/australia-who-members-should-support-proposed-coronavirus-inquiry">Australia: WHO members should support proposed coronavirus inquiry</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/29/20/australia-to-ramp-up-coronavirus-testing-with-millions-of-new-kits">Australia to ramp up coronavirus testing with millions of new kits</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/21/20/road-to-recovery-australia-eases-restrictions-as-coronavirus-spread-slows">Road to recovery: Australia eases restrictions as coronavirus spread slows</a></li></ul>China accused Australia of playing &quot;petty tricks&quot; and the Chinese ambassador to Australia warned Chinese consumers could boycott Australian products if Australia pursued the inquiry.China has also since suspended beef imports from 4 of Australia&#x27;s largest meat processors and imposed hefty tariffs on imports of barley, although both sides say those moves are unrelated to the spat over the pandemic.Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham, who has been requesting discussions with his Chinese counterpart for weeks, said Beijing has been ignoring Canberra&#x27;s pleas.&quot;Unfortunately, our requests for a discussion have so far been met negatively,&quot; Birmingham told Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) radio on Monday. &quot;That&#x27;s disappointing.&quot; <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/28/20/china-lab-rejects-covid-19-conspiracy-claims-but-virus-origins-still-a-mystery">China lab rejects COVID-19 conspiracy claims, but virus origins still a mystery</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/03/20/us-official-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-wuhan-lab">US says &#x27;evidence&#x27; virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown</a></li></ul>China is by far Australia&#x27;s biggest export market, taking more than 30 percent of Australia&#x27;s exports by value.Overall relations have been strained amid Australian accusations of Chinese meddling in domestic affairs and concern about what Australia sees as China&#x27;s growing influence in the Pacific region.On Friday, China advised its people to avoid travelling to Australia, citing racial discrimination and violence against the Chinese in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, advice which Canberra disputed.A Newspoll for The Australian newspaper on Monday showed 79 percent of Australians backed the push for a global coronavirus investigation.

Australia said on Monday China remains unresponsive to its weeks-long pleas to ease tensions between the 2 trading partners that escalated after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

Australia said on Monday China remains unresponsive to its weeks-long pleas to ease tensions between the 2 trading partners that escalated after Canberra called for an international inquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus.

Australia says China unresponsive to its pleas to ease tensions

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Australia says China unresponsive to its pleas to ease tensions

Lidia Kelly,

Reuters

Published Jun 08, 2020 11:05 AM PHT

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