‘Completely inappropriate’ for Paul Keating to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister

Former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says it is “completely inappropriate” for the Chinese Foreign Minister to meet with former prime minister Paul Keating. Keating has been highly critical of Australia’s relationship with China and described Foreign Minister Penny Wong as having “a mindless pro-American stance”. Senator Wong downplayed Keating's meeting on Wednesday reiterating that the former prime minister has no influence over government policy. Given Mr Keating’s constant criticisms of the Albanese government’s approach to China and the United States, many have accused him of undermining the federal government. Mr Downer told Sky News host Chris Kenny that it was “incredibly tactless”.