China’s cash promises in South-East Asia are coming up short,report says

China’s cash promises in South-East Asia are coming up short,report says

President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013,immediately winning over many foreign governments with promises of unprecedented investment.

  • byZach Hope

Latest

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews planning imminent China trade trip

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews planning imminent China trade trip

The premier’s office is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the visit,but the trade mission is still expected to cause some concern.

  • byBroede Carmody,Anthony Galloway andStephen Brook
Victoria continued to use Uighur-linked firm to avoid delays on $2.4b rail project
Exclusive
China

Victoria continued to use Uighur-linked firm to avoid delays on $2.4b rail project

Transport department advised government to continue with purchase of train parts from Chinese supplier because it would cost too much to find different contractor.

  • byPaul Sakkal andSumeyya Ilanbey
Have we seen the last head of Australian foreign affairs who speaks Mandarin?

Have we seen the last head of Australian foreign affairs who speaks Mandarin?

Australia’s national interests are better served by having more Chinese-speakers yet exchange programs and courses are hanging in the balance.

  • byCiara Morris
Andrews government maintains secrecy on deal it signed with China

Andrews government maintains secrecy on deal it signed with China

The Victorian government refused to provide the memorandum of understanding to The Age on the basis that the agreement included information disclosed by the Chinese government to Victoria “with an expectation of confidentiality”.

  • byPaul Sakkal andSumeyya Ilanbey
The call never came:Victoria’s China deal was done through Premier Daniel Andrews’ office

The call never came:Victoria’s China deal was done through Premier Daniel Andrews’ office

Had Daniel Andrews consulted more widely as he pursued a Belt and Road agreement with the Chinese government,he might have been told the politics on China was rapidly changing.

  • byAnthony Galloway
Advertisement
Hopes tension with Beijing won’t hit Chinese student numbers

Hopes tension with Beijing won’t hit Chinese student numbers

Victoria’s $13 billion international education trade looks well set to withstand Australia’s deteriorating relationship with China.

  • byAdam Carey,Noel Towell,Benjamin Preiss andEmma Koehn
Why our economy can afford to stand up to China with Belt and Road veto

Why our economy can afford to stand up to China with Belt and Road veto

The cancelling of Victoria’s deal with China is not costless - and we do not know yet how Beijing might retaliate - but the economic damage to Australia from sanctions it has already imposed have been far less than many feared.

  • byRoland Rajah
‘Debt trap’:Bipartisan support for tearing up Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement

‘Debt trap’:Bipartisan support for tearing up Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement

National security experts and federal Labor have welcomed the Morrison government’s decision to tear up Victoria’s Belt and Road deal with China,but warn of the possible fallout.

  • byAnthony Galloway,Paul Sakkal andHanna Mills Turbet
Transport Department to face VCAT over refusal to release advice on Uighurs
Exclusive
Victoria

Transport Department to face VCAT over refusal to release advice on Uighurs

The opposition is seeking access to advice provided to the Transport Infrastructure Minister that rejected claims a Chinese company building Melbourne’s new train fleet benefited from Uighur labour.

  • bySumeyya Ilanbey
Victoria’s secret agreement with China faces federal government scrutiny

Victoria’s secret agreement with China faces federal government scrutiny

The Commonwealth will probe a third deal between the Andrews government and China to advance public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects,signed separately to Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road deal.

  • bySumeyya Ilanbey