China FM says trust with Australia damaged

China has accused Australia of damaging the trust between the two countries through remarks and actions on Beijing’s newly-declared air defense zone over the East China Sea.

“Australia’s words and actions on the issue of China’s air defense zone have damaged the mutual trust between the two sides,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

China established the Air Defense Identification Zone over the East China Sea last month, saying all military and commercial aircraft should inform the Chinese government before entering the region.

Tensions between Australia and China escalated after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop described Beijing’s move as “unhelpful” and summoned China’s ambassador to explain.

Back then, China’s Foreign Ministry rejected her remarks as “irresponsible” and “completely wrong.”

However, following four hours of talks with Wang on Saturday, Bishop downplayed tensions over China’s air defense zone.

“Australia is concerned that there be peace and stability in our region and we don’t want to see any escalation of the tensions,” she said.