<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="_blank" title="Chinese"><span>Chinese</span></a><span> state media has labelled Australia's attempt at smoothing trade barriers between the countries as "two-faced" and accused the government of attempting to "butter bread on both sides" in a piercing editorial.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>English-language newspaper </span><a href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202509/16/WS68c95b93a3108622abca117d.html" rel="" target="_blank" title="China Daily"><em><span>China Daily</span></em></a><span> published an opinion piece warning Canberra over simultaneously pursuing stronger trade relations with China while strengthening security ties with the United States.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australia should confront the stark contradiction between its economic interests and its security alignment, as the latter only escalates regional tensions and undermines stability," the editorial reads.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-uk-visit-king-charles-iii-prepares-to-welcome-trump-windsor-castle/3fc8ad29-f31f-4424-9b29-6c6fbd5fe706" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump fixated on 'so healthy, so beautiful' host</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/charlie-kirk-shooting-updates-tyler-robinson-feared-being-shot-at-home-turned-himself-in-sheriff-says/03643245-9275-4229-9d35-fe216f769dae" target="_blank"><strong><span>Sheriff reveals why Charlie Kirk suspect turned himself in</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While benefiting from trade with China, Australia continues to try and sustain the AUKUS arrangement, a US-led mechanism targeting China, and lend support to the Philippines in the South China Sea.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Such behaviour exposes Australia's implicit calculations to butter both sides of its bread at the same time."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/chinese-state-media-labels-australia-policy-strategy-between-china-and-usa-as-two-faced/116d7076-8ac4-44c3-baa4-d33845680d75" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The newspaper claimed China would "under no circumstances tolerate such infringements on its core interests".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Its two-faced policy toward China is not sustainable in the long run," the article stated.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The editorial, which has no byline, plainly stated that China "poses no threat to Australia".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It then urged the government to develop a "rational perception" of China, which captures its key role as a major trading partner and one that promotes peace in the Asia-Pacific region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The writer finished by claiming the Albanese government knows what to do to keep relations stable.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The blunt message from Chinese media comes as Australian government officials spend time in China in a bid to court local tourism and investment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-premier-jacinta-allan-to-unveil-her-china-strategy-during-crucial-visit-to-beijing/a573632a-d708-4a0e-b77a-db7cf791a737" rel="" target="_blank" title="Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is visiting four cities"><span>Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan is visiting four cities</span></a><span>, including Beijing, to cement a warmer relationship with one of Victoria's key trading partners.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/usa-jeffrey-epstein-files-kash-patel-fbi/1d498445-f6fa-4410-a280-d732fb60b25a" target="_blank"><strong><span>The Epstein files question the FBI Director refused to answer nine times</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also made a five-day visit to China in July, a seemingly successful trip which </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-china-visit-updates-chinese-state-media-lavishes-praise-on-australia/4486b93a-76c9-4709-a737-5b9bef9eb0fb"><span>provoked a glowing editorial in Chinese newspaper Global Times.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The writer heaped praise on Albanese for having wisdom in "seeking harmony without uniformity" during his meeting with Chinese leaders.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The same publication previously heaped praise on Albanese for achieving a "turnaround" in Chinese-Australia relations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM is also expected to meet with US President Donald Trump next week in New York as he heads to the UN General Assembly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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