Ambassador’s fiery speech was the sound of China laying out terms that Australia has already declined

‘China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, had a simple message in Canberra: how about more trade and less trash talk?’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA

During 90 minutes of statecraft that was candid enough to be deeply chilling, China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, crystallised the central question in Australia-China relations.

Xi’s Australian representative – who was fluent, erudite, composed and periodically sardonic in response to preamble-heavy questioning at the National Press Club on Wednesday – floated a detente. How about more trade and less trash talk?