List of Australian Ambassadors to China
| Ambassador of Australia to China | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Style | Her Excellency |
| Nominator | Prime Minister of Australia |
| Appointer | Governor General of Australia |
| Inaugural holder | Frederic Eggleston |
| Formation | 1941 |
| Website | Australian Embassy, China |
The Australian Ambassador to China is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The position has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and has resided in Beijing since 1973.
Australia's legation was first accredited to the Republic of China and was located in Chungking (Qongqing) from 1941 to 1946, with the first Minister, Sir Frederic Eggleston, presenting his credentials to President Lin Sen on 30 October 1941. The legation later moved to Nanking (Nanjing) from June 1946 to 1949, with the embassy located first at 34 Peiping Road and then 26 Yihe Road, Nanjing. Following the Proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Australian Government recalled its Ambassador from China to discuss recognition of the Communist Government. In 1966 Australia recognised Taiwan as the "Republic of China", and opened an Embassy in Taipei. In 1972, diplomatic relations were ended following the decision of the government of Gough Whitlam to recognise the People's Republic of China and the embassy closed in 1973.
After diplomatic recognition of the PRC in 1972, Australia established an embassy in Beijing in 1973, followed by consulates-general in Shanghai (1984), Hong Kong (upgraded from Australian Commission, 1986), Guangzhou (1992) and Chengdu (2013). The latter was opened following the release of the Asian Century White Paper by the Gillard government, and calls for an expanded diplomatic footprint in China. On 9 November 2014, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop formally opened the consulate-general in Chengdu. In March 2017, an agreement was signed to allow the setup of a fifth Australian Consulate-General in 2018, to be located in the northern city of Shenyang. From 1991 to 2008, the Ambassador to China was also accredited to Mongolia. As a result of Australia's recognition of the PRC in 1973, Australia has no diplomatic representation with Taiwan and continues economic, trade and cultural relations with the Australian Office in Taipei.
...
Wikipedia