中国、豪から石炭禁輸？　「政治的制裁か」と豪が説明要求

【シドニーＡＦＰ＝時事】オーストラリアは13日、中国が豪産石炭の輸入停止の措置を講じたとの報道が出ていることを受けて、中国側に説明を求めた。これが事実なら、すでに低迷している豪経済にとって深刻な打撃となる。（写真は資料写真）
　オーストラリアの対中石炭輸出は、年間約１兆円規模に上る。
　サイモン・バーミンガム貿易相は、米中間の緊張が高まる中、政治的な制裁として豪産石炭の購入中止指示が中国側からあったのかどうかについて、外交ルートを通じて照会中だと明かした。
　バーミンガム氏は、非公式な石炭禁輸措置の導入を認めるには至らなかったものの、同氏のコメントは、数週間前から業界に広がっていた輸入停止のうわさを裏付けるものとなった。
　業界関連の複数のメディアが先に、中国国営のエネルギー供給会社と製鋼所が、オーストラリアからの石炭購入をやめるようにとの中国当局からの「口頭での通達」を受けていたと報じていた。
　中国外務省の趙立堅報道官は１３日、石炭禁輸に関する質問への回答は避け、詳細については他の関係当局に聞くよう促した。ただ具体的な当局名には言及しなかった。
　趙報道官は、「健全で安定した中豪関係は、両国の相互利益にかなうものだが、そのためには双方が努力する必要がある」とした上で、豪政府に対し「中豪間の相互信頼に寄与するより多くの行動」を強く促した。
　両国間ではここ数か月、貿易摩擦とスパイ疑惑で緊張が続いている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/10/14-12:29）

Australia on Tuesday called for China to clarify whether restrictions have been placed on the import of Australian coal, a potentially significant hit to the already struggling economy Down Under.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said he had asked via diplomatic channels whether China had instructed its companies to stop buying Australian coal -- a business worth around US$10 billion a year -- as political punishment.
I've had discussions with the Australian industry, and we are making approaches to Chinese authorities in relation to that speculation, he told Sky News.
Birmingham stopped short of confirming that an unofficial coal embargo had been introduced, but his comments give credence to rumours that have swirled in the sector for weeks.
I don't want us to get ahead of ourselves in terms of the speculation there, but we are working with industry and taking action and having discussions there with China, he said.
Several trade publications including S&P Global Platts have reported that Chinese state-controlled energy providers and steel mills had received a verbal notice from the government to stop buying Australian coal.
It is the latest flare-up in a relationship that in recent months been peppered by trade rows and spy scandals.
A ban on Australian coal could have serious implications for the country's resource-dependent economy, which is already in its first recession in almost 30 years.
It would also be a blow to Australia's conservative government, which has swatted aside environmental concerns to heavily promote the faltering coal industry in order to safeguard political support in key parts of the country.
Australian ministers have said they struggle to make contact with their Chinese counterparts, as Beijing has put relations into deep freeze.
Their ties have soured considerably as China has become more aggressive in pursuing its interests overseas.
After Australia called for an investigation into how the coronavirus outbreak began, Beijing responded by threatening Australian wine, beef and barley exports.
Beijing has also warned people not to visit Australia for study or tourism -- a vital economic sector -- alleging anti-Asian racism in the wake of the pandemic.
Birmingham expressed hope that the coal issue would resolve itself.
We have over recent years seen that there's a pattern that has involved previous disruptions to the flow of Australian coal into China, he said.
But the market has then recovered as a result of a range of different factors including the application of some domestic quotas, it seems, in the Chinese system.