China's newly arrived ambassador to Australia, Liu Jinsong, has told the Albanese government to respect Beijing's "core interests and major concerns", a phrase China typically uses in relation to Taiwan and sovereignty. The comments come at a delicate moment for the bilateral relationship, with unresolved tensions over Chinese military activity in the Indo-Pacific, a missile test in the Pacific in July, and the contested future of Darwin Port, which is leased to Chinese-owned Landbridge.

Liu, a veteran diplomat who previously spent five years overseeing Asian affairs at China's Foreign Ministry, landed in Sydney and travelled to Canberra by bus before appearing publicly alongside two leaders of Chinese "peaceful reunification" groups linked to the Communist Party's United Front network, a meeting later publicised by the Chinese embassy. Despite the pointed remarks, he also stressed the strength of the relationship, noting the countries have "no historical grievances" and complementary economies. Ties had soured sharply under former prime minister Scott Morrison amid trade bans on Australian coal, barley and wine, but have since improved under Anthony Albanese, with Beijing lifting roughly $20 billion in trade restrictions and high-level dialogue resuming.