Ex-Labor Leader at Beijing Parade Unlikely to Impact US-ANZAC Ties: Analysts

The sight of senior Australian political figures at the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military events may fuel domestic criticism, but scholars argue it is more symbolic than substantive—unlikely to reshape Canberra’s commitments to the Five Eyes or Washington.

Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and former Foreign Minister Bob Carr were both invited to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s military parade in Tiananmen Square on Sept. 3, which marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II and showcased the communist regime’s military ambitions.

Former New Zealand Prime Ministers Helen Clark and John Key also attended the parade.

Andrews was filmed shaking hands with CCP leader Xi Jinping on the red carpet before the parade and taking a group photo with other authoritarian world leaders, such as Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, and Iran’s leader Masoud Pezeshkian, countries that some refer to as the “axis of evil.”

Carr did not attend the parade but took part in a separate indoor event, and addressed two Chinese think tanks. He defended his presence in Beijing, saying that the Chinese victory over Japan was a historic event worth celebrating.

The two drew strong criticism, including from ex-Labor Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said being part of the CCP’s military parade was inappropriate and a “bridge too far.”

Little Impact on International Ties

Despite the poor optics of senior ANZAC figures standing alongside authoritarian leaders, one analyst says it will have little bearing on Australia’s existing relationships, like the Fives Eyes intelligence sharing arrangement or the U.S. relationship.

“I don’t think this visit will largely shape the international relationship within the Asia-Pacific area,” according to Yao-Yuan Yeh, a professor of political science at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, in an interview with The Epoch Times.

Yeh noted that it would be a much stronger signal if the current leaders, especially the prime ministers, decide to visit China for such an occasion.

“What we can conclude is that some figures in Australia and New Zealand are still hedging between the U.S. and China, but their commitments to the U.S. seem to be stronger than to China,” he said.

Professor Feng Chongyi, associate professor of China studies at the University of Technology Sydney, on the other hand, said their appearance “shamelessly championed” the CCP’s event and status on the world stage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a close friend of Andrews, tried to downplay the issue, when pressed about whether it.

“[Andrews] not meeting [Xi],” Albanese told media.

The prime minister affirmed that Andrews attended the military parade in a private capacity, referencing an example 10 years ago.

“Last time Australia sent a representative to the 70th anniversary of the war’s end in 2015, then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott chose government minister Michael Ronaldson,” he said.

Unclear What Andrews, Carr Hope to Gain: Analyst

There are also doubts surrounding what the two Australian officials hope to gain from attending the CCP’s military parade.

Michael Shoebridge, a former senior intelligence officer and the director of Strategic Analysis Australia, argued that while leaders of Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar all “value the global platform and profile they get from being there at the parade,” what Carr and Andrews get is less clear.

“They may be sincere and true believers in Xi Jinping’s China Dream, who knows?” he wrote in an opinion for Sky news.

“Or maybe it’s the chance to return to Australia and tell us they weren’t duchessed and charmed by the narratives of Communist Party wonder and the generous hospitality of their hosts.”

Shoebridge noted that the pair boasts one advantage which is lacked by China’s 1.4 billion people: leaving anytime and returning to a country where they can speak out what they think, without worrying about being arrested.

“As we await their return, I’m happy to be pleasantly surprised as we hear their reflections,” he wrote.