Penny Wong says diplomatic thaw with China possible if Coalition stops ‘playing politics’

Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Penny Wong says Labor would not ‘play domestic politics with the China relationship’. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Penny Wong, says it may be possible for Australia to achieve a diplomatic thaw with China despite the substantial differences between the two countries – if Scott Morrison abandons his “desperate” pre-election weaponisation of national security.

The foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, this week met China’s new ambassador to Australia, who has made several overtures for dialogue since arriving in Canberra in January.