Protests have marred the opening of a new Chinese consulate in Adelaide, which has previously prompted questions over its size and national security implications.
The opening ceremony in the Adelaide suburb of Joslin on Wednesday was disrupted by local protesters from the Uighur, Vietnamese, Tibetan, Hong Kong and Nepalese communities.
No federal government officials were present at the ceremony, with South Australian Premier Steven Marshall in attendance to meet with Chinese officials from Canberra.
In a statement to SBS News, Mr Marshall said his attendance was necessary to maintain Australia's diplomatic relationship with China.
"Mr Marshall in his capacity as Premier meets with consular officials from a variety of countries on a regular basis," the statement said.
DFAT in a statement to SBS News also defended the need to maintain consular relations with China.
"Embassies and diplomatic staff are essential to maintaining official channels of communications between governments.
"Our Embassy and Consulates in China play an important role in advancing Australia’s interests.
"Our expectation is that all foreign missions act in an appropriate manner, consistent with Australian law."
The 5,600 square metre facility, built on a site valued at $10 million, will be staffed by between ten and 12 consular staff.
The official opening of China's new embassy in South Australia has not been welcomed by some members of the local community who have concerns about the size and influence of the mission.
SBS News
The other two consulates in the state has staff in the single digits. Greece's consulate has two staff employed and Italy's embassy has one.
About 50,000 Chinese passport holders live in the state, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
South Australian independent senator Rex Patrick said he has concerns about the national security implications.
"I don't understand while the Premier is rolling out the red carpet for the Chinese government in circumstances when they [China's government] are acting out against our crayfish industry, our wine industry, our grain industry," he told SBS News.
"Steven Marshall is sleeping with the enemy here."
Many of Australia's defence capabilities are based in Adelaide, with the federal government allocating $90 billion on a naval shipbuilding plan to construct warships and submarines.
Two protesters arrested
South Australia Police arrested two men for assault and public order offences during the protest attended by hundreds of people from diaspora communities on Wednesday.
Ted Hui said he and other members of the local community from Hong Kong have concerns about the location and size of the embassy.
"Instead of sending them a warm welcome, the Australian government should give the Chinese government a stronger stance and [voice] criticisms against human right violations," he told SBS News.
"With Chinese embassy, with the size [being] this big and there can be infiltrations and other suspicious activity. We just don't trust the [Chinese] officials."
Professor of international security John Blaxland at the Australian National University said the federal government is managing the trade-offs that come with maintaining diplomatic relations, even while balancing defence considerations.
"The concerns about the consulate in Adelaide are understandable, but they need to be placed in the context of our international relations," he said.
"The bottom line is that we have five consulates or embassies in China and the arrangement is potentially a reciprocal one.
"So if we were to constrain them in Australia, they would be constraining us in China as well."
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Frances Adamson told Senate estimates last week the federal government has made "active considerations" on the diplomatic obligations under the Vienna Convention, the consulate's size and the national security implications.
"We look at what role it is that the consul-general is telling us, if you like, that it needs to perform in relation to the number of citizens it needs to service," she said.
"And on the basis of that alone, yes, it looks on the large side, but it is not, on its own, a matter of concern.
"What would be of concern, and what we would seek to act on immediately, is if we, and when I say we, I don’t just mean DFAT, I mean all Australian government agencies, observed any behaviours on the part of those staff which were contrary to their formal roles under the Vienna Convention and contrary to, if you like, our interests."
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SA Liberal senator Alex Antic, who raised the questions in Senate estimates, said he has sought assurances from Foreign Minister Marise Payne about the size of the consulate and complaints made by local residents over the use of security cameras positioned over homes.
'Look at China in an objective manner'
Minister Payne's office directed SBS News to a previous statement made on 23 March about China's treatment of Uighurs in the Xinjiang province.
"There is clear evidence of severe human rights abuses that include restrictions on freedom of religion, mass surveillance, large-scale extra-judicial detentions, as well as forced labour and forced birth control, including sterilisation," it said.
"Since 2018, when reports began to emerge about the detention camps in Xinjiang, Australia and New Zealand have consistently called on China in the United Nations to respect the human rights of the Uighur people, and other religious and ethnic minorities."
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China has consistently rejected claims about forced labour and forced birth control, saying the voluntary re-education camps are aimed at combating extremism.
China's consulate in Adelaide did not respond to SBS News' enquiries.
Chinese consul-general Li Zhang has previously rejected complaints about the construction of the facility, saying the embassy is committed to serving Chinese nationals in the state and upholding its duties under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
"We urge relevant media to discard prejudice, look at China in an objective and rational manner, rather than stir up trouble or smear China intentionally," he has said.
Opening of new Chinese consulate in South Australia marred by local protests - SBS News
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