One of Australia\u2019s European partners has expressed concern about China\u2019s\u00a0increasing assertiveness and has called for restraint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In a joint media conference with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong on Monday, Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said nations in the Pacific region needed to remain calm amid soaring tensions in the Taiwan Strait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we see is that there is a rising assertiveness not only in this part of the world, but in our part of the region,\u201d Mr Rinkevics told reporters in Canberra.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very important to understand that China is also really carefully watching what is happening in Europe, what is happening in Ukraine, and has adjusted its policies and stance in this part of the world.<\/p>\n
Get Crikey FREE to your inbox every weekday morning with the Crikey Worm<\/span>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n \u201cIt is very important we work together and we provide the same kind of message of the need to have restraint, not to over-react.\u201d<\/p>\n His comments come after a tense stand-off following US Speaker\u00a0Nancy Pelosi\u2019s visit to Taiwan last week.\u00a0<\/p>\n In response, China shot 11 ballistic missiles over Taiwan and close to Japan, in addition to war-gaming an invasion of the island.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Chinese government said it was the \u201cvictim\u201d and accused Senator Wong of \u201cfinger pointing\u201d after she last week condemned Beijing\u2019s \u201cdisproportionate and destabilising\u201d actions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Senator Wong said on Monday Australia was not the only nation concerned about escalation and it was critical the \u201ctemperature is lowered\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe region is concerned about escalation, the region is concerned about the risk of conflict,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAustralia\u2019s national interests haven\u2019t changed \u2026 we will continue in a calm and considered way to articulate our national interests\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I would say is our interests are the interests of the region, and that is restraint and de-escalation.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked if she will contact Taiwan\u2019s government, Senator Wong said: \u201cWe will continue to act in ways consistent with our longstanding bipartisan \u2018one China\u2019 policy.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlier, the European Union\u2019s outgoing Australian ambassador, Dr Michael Pulch, said there was nothing provocative about parliamentarians visiting other nations, as Ms Pelosi had done.<\/p>\n He said Europe did not hold the view the US was at \u201cfault\u201d in going ahead with the visit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t! function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {![\"Crikey](\"https:\/\/www.crikey.com.au\/wp-content\/themes\/crikey\/images\/worm-signup.png\")
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