China threatens to cut Australian imports by billions of dollars

Beijing. May 25. Silkroadnews - The Chinese government has threatened to abandon the import of Australian beef and wine products, which could cut the Australian imports by billions of dollars, the Australian news portal News.com.au reports.
An article in one of the state-owned Chinese media said it is time to “make Australia pay for its arrogant attitudes it has revealed toward China over the past two years”.
Last week, Australia had much warmer tone speaking about China after months of tensions following the introduction of foreign interference laws.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop described her recent meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi as “warm, candid and constructive”, stating that she “gets along very well” with Mr. Yi.
However, Mr. Yi gave a less amicable description of the meeting.
“Due to the Australian side, China and Australia are encountering difficulties in the relationship, and communications and co-operation have been affected recently,” the agency quoted him saying.
“What I want to emphasise is, if Australia really hopes the relationship to return to the right track and develop in a healthy way, Australia must get rid of traditional thinking, put down their coloured glasses and see China’s development in a more positive perspective,” Wang Yi also added.
“Metal ore is Australia’s major export to China. As long as China is in need of the metal exports, and a replacement remains difficult to find, they will continue to import them. But when it comes to wine and beef, China can easily import those items from the US, replacing Australia,” the article said.
According to the publication, “the scope of import reductions could be limited. Last year, Australia exported $76.45 billion in goods to China. Lowering Aussie exports by $6.45 billion would send cold chills up and down the spine of Australia. Of course, it would be an even greater shock if the import reductions totalled $10 billion.”
“China has been very friendly toward Australia, but their arrogant attitudes in return over the past two years have become a virtual example of what it means to ‘bite the hand that feeds’,” Chinese media wrote.
The editorial also referred to the South China Sea and “ideological problems” as sources of tension.