Returning the latest volley in a game of verbal tennis between Beijing and Canberra, Birmingham told Australian radio that “it is fanciful to suggest that we haven’t sought and tried pretty much every possible or conceivable avenue” in engaging with China, adding that it is “up to them as to whether they are willing to come to the table to have those talks too”.
“I and other Australian government ministers are willing to take phone calls, engage with our counterparts, have meetings with our counterparts. We have expressed that very clearly – we’re willing to have that dialogue. The ball is in Beijing’s court in the sense that it is up to them as to whether they are willing to come to the table to have those talks too,” he said.
