Australia’s parliament passed legislation on Thursday (December 3) that gives the federal government the power to veto any agreement a state, parliament or agency enters into with a foreign country. Reuters reports that the measure comes amid rising tensions between Australia and China, which fears the measure may not please China.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stressed at a press conference on Thursday that the new law is not directed at any country or region, and that Australia’s policies and programs are based on national needs and interests. But analysis generally sees it as targeting China.
Under the new law, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs can veto any agreement with a foreign government if it ‘harms’ Australia’s foreign relations or is inconsistent with Australian foreign policy.
The controversial agreement reached in 2018 by the Australian state of Victoria to participate in China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ construction could be affected, according to Reuters. Morrison has previously said that the agreement weakens the federal government’s ability to control foreign policy. He declined to say whether he would use his veto power over the agreement.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner, which has deteriorated since Canberra called for an independent international investigation into the origins of the new coronavirus.
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