The government on the diplomatic plates must be in tune

Yet even within the cabinet, ministers accuse themselves of addressing these challenges with L.'s plates.

Former Minister of International Development and Pacific Concetta Fierravanti Wells described this week the behavior of Environment Minister Melissa Price, who had insulted the former Prime Minister of Kiribati by mocking his concerns about the impact of climate change on his small island. .

Ms. Price should have realized that Australia can not shed light on a problem that poses an existential threat to these islands, while urging them to reject Chinese money offerings of influence.

The L plates were again on display this week while Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews had decided to sign a memorandum of understanding with China on the One Belt One Road infrastructure initiative.

Mr. Andrews would probably have had to better coordinate the signing with the federal government, but the attack by Premier Scott Morrison against the harmless memorandum, as far as a secret deal was excessive. The whole incident will make China believe that a "divide and conquer" strategy can work here in Australia.

The worst beginner error, however, was the announcement by Mr. Morrison that he was considering moving the Australian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to accommodate the Jewish ethnic vote in the prospect of the Wentworth by-election. the Herald argued at the time that the relocation of the embassy was a bad idea, which did nothing to further the cause of peace in the Middle East and unnecessarily upset the northern Muslim neighbors, with whom it was not possible. Australia had vital interests.

A month later, the movement is still under attack by Malaysia and Indonesia. Indonesia has suspended the signing of a free trade agreement until Australia changes its mind. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad made an extraordinary public statement suggesting that Australia's decision could encourage regional terrorism.

Hesitations on the need to back down from these attacks were even more useless than the initial announcement.

Mr Morrison said that he could back down, but then added that foreigners should not be able to dictate our policy. In fact, Australia is constantly moderating its policies on the basis of realpolitik and, because of Mr. Morrison's formulation of the debate, it is difficult to find a compromise that saves the face.

Australia should put the issue at the center of the process so that it can focus on more important regional issues, such as limiting China's influence and defending human rights in countries like the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar. That's why he was so stupid that Treasurer Josh Frydenberg could not resist Dr. Mahathir's criticism, accusing the 93-year-old Malaysian leader of speaking out against Israel by anti-Semitism.

Dr. Mahathir is certainly not in a position to lecture on morality in Australia, but what is the purpose of alienating him now as he heads a new democratic government? Malaysian ready to face China?

Australia is a middle power that must build coalitions. Our participation in a letter signed by 15 ambassadors, including major European countries and Canada, is a good example of our concerns about China's treatment of its Uyghur minority in the predominantly Muslim Xinjiang region. It was stronger than acting unilaterally.

Australia must seek to establish similar alliances on a host of other issues of regional interest. Mr. Morrison and the rest of the government need to develop their diplomatic skills.