JAKARTA — The Australian government has rejected China’s proposal to form a united front against upcoming US import tariffs.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Sky News, as quoted by The Straits Times on Friday (11/4), “We are not going to join China in any of the contests that are currently underway.”

Marles stressed that Australia prioritises its national interests and is pursuing trade diversification across global markets. He added that the government aims to deepen ties with trading partners in the European Union, Indonesia, India, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East.

The comment came in response to an opinion piece by Xiao Qian, China’s ambassador to Australia, published in The Age, urging Canberra to cooperate with Beijing to uphold the multilateral global trading system.

“In the current circumstances, China is ready to join hands with Australia and the international community to respond to global changes,” Xiao wrote.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government has opted for a diplomatic approach in response to the US tariff hike, with plans to dispatch a negotiation team next week (17/4).

Mulya Amri, Executive Director of the Kadin Institute, supported the government’s plan to pursue negotiations, calling it the right move in light of the US’s tariff policy shift. (LK/ZH)