List of ambassadors of Australia to China

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Ambassador of Australia to China
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Graham Fletcher.jpg
Incumbent
Graham Fletcher
since July 2019
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Style His Excellency
Reports to Minister for Foreign Affairs
Residence Beijing
Nominator Prime Minister of Australia
Appointer Governor General of Australia
Inaugural holder Frederic Eggleston
Formation28 October 1941
Website Australian Embassy, China

The ambassador of Australia 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 People's Republic of China (PRC). The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and has lived in Beijing since 1973. [1] The incumbent ambassador is Graham Fletcher who took up the appointment in July 2019. The ambassador's work is assisted by multiple consulates throughout the country that have visiting and reporting responsibilities, as well as handling consular and trade matters for the embassy.

Contents

Posting history

Australia's first diplomatic representative in China was Vivian Gordon Bowden, who in 1935 was appointed as a trade commissioner based in Shanghai. [2] The establishment of trade commissions in several Asian countries was an initiative of the Lyons government first announced in 1933, where previously Australian interests had been represented by the United Kingdom. [3] Bowden's office was based in the HSBC Building within the Shanghai International Settlement. [4] Bowden served until 1941 when he was transferred to Singapore, with the trade commission taken over by the new formal legation in Chongqing. [5]

Australia's legation was first accredited to the Republic of China and was located in Chongqing 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 Nanjing from June 1946 to 1949, initially located at 34 Peiping Road and then 26 Yihe Road. [6] 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. [7] The Government of the Republic of China, having retreated to Taipei, Taiwan, maintained its embassy in Australia until December 1972. In 1966 Australia opened an Embassy in Taipei. [8] In 1972, diplomatic relations ceased following the decision of the government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to recognise the People's Republic of China, and the Taipei Embassy closed in 1973. [9] As a result of Australia's recognition of the PRC in 1973, Australia has no diplomatic representation in Taiwan and continues economic, trade and cultural relations through the Australian Office in Taipei.

After diplomatic recognition of the PRC in 1972, Australia established an Embassy in Beijing in 1973, [10] followed by Consulates-General in Shanghai (1984), Guangzhou (1992), [11] and Chengdu (2013). The latter was opened following release of the Asian Century White Paper by the Gillard government, and calls for an expanded diplomatic footprint in China. [12] On 9 November 2014 the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, formally opened the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu. [13] In March 2017, an agreement was signed to establish a fifth Australian Consulate-General in 2018, to be located in the northern city of Shenyang. [14] From 1991 to 2008, the ambassador to China was also accredited to Mongolia.

List of officeholders

Building of the former Australian Legation in Chongqing, 1941-1946. Ao Da Li Ya Gong Shi Guan Jiu Zhi Zhao Pian .JPG
Building of the former Australian Legation in Chongqing, 1941–1946.

Heads of Mission

Republic of China, 1941–1949

#NameOfficeTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
1 Frederic Eggleston Minister 28 October 194125 February 19442 years, 120 days [15]
– Keith Officer Chargé d'affaires 25 February 194415 October 19451 year, 232 days
2 Douglas Copland Minister1 January 19467 June 19482 years, 158 days
– Osmond Charles Fuhrman Chargé d'affaires7 June 194814 November 1948160 days
3 Keith Officer Ambassador15 November 194817 October 1949336 days [7] [16]
Relations suspended

Republic of China (Taiwan), 1966–1973

#NameOfficeTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
– Walter Handmer Chargé d'affaires196619660 years [17]
4Frank Bell CooperAmbassador196619692–3 years [18]
5 Hugh Dunn 196919722–3 years [19] [20]
–Tony Godfrey-SmithChargé d'affaires197219730–1 years [20]
For Australian ambassadors after 1973 see the list of representatives of the Australian Office in Taipei

People's Republic of China, 1973–present

#NameOfficeOther officesTerm start dateTerm end dateTime in officeNotes
1 Stephen FitzGerald Ambassador197319762–3 years [10]
2Garry Woodard197619803–4 years [21]
3 Hugh Dunn 198019843–4 years [22]
4 Dennis Argall 198419850–1 years [23]
5 Ross Garnaut 198519882–3 years
6 David Sadleir 198819912–3 years
7Michael Lightowler A 199119964–5 years [24]
8 Ric Smith A 199620003–4 years [25]
9 David Irvine A 200020032–3 years [26]
10Alan Thomas A 200320073–4 years [27]
11 Geoff Raby A 200720113–4 years [28]
12 Frances Adamson 201120153–4 years [29]
13 Jan Adams AO , PSM February 2016July 20193 years, 5 months [30]
14 Graham Fletcher 28 August 2019incumbent3 years, 345 days [31] [32] [33] [34]

Notes

^A Also non-resident Australian Ambassador to Mongolia, 1991 to 2008.

Deputy Heads of Mission

NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Colin S. Heseltine19821985 [35]
David Ambrose19851988 [36]
Colin S. Heseltine19881992 [35]
Sam Gerovich19921997 [37]
Penny Richards19972000 [38]
Lydia Morton20002003 [39]
Graham Fletcher 20032008 [40] [32]
Graeme Meehan20082012 [41]
Justin Hayhurst2012November 2016 [42] [43]
Gerald ThomsonNovember 2016December 2019 [43]
Jason RobertsonJanuary 2020present [44]

Consuls-General

LocationOpen Consular district
Consulate-General, Hong Kong 1972 Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR
Consulate-General, Shanghai 1984 Shanghai Municipality, Anhui, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang
Consulate-General, Guangzhou1992 Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Hunan, Guangxi Zhuang AR
Consulate-General, Chengdu2013 Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Municipality of Chongqing
Consulate-General, Shenyang2019 Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang

Chengdu

NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Nancy Gordon30 May 20137 November 2016 [12]
Christopher Lim7 November 20164 May 2021 [45]
Adelle Neary4 May 2021present [46]

Guangzhou

NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Maurine ChongNovember 199231 May 1996 [47]
Zena Armstrong31 May 199628 September 1999 [48]
John Courtney28 September 199911 September 2003 [49]
Kevin Magee11 September 200325 October 2006 [50]
Sean Kelly26 January 200720 November 2009 [51] [52]
Grant Dooley20 November 200925 June 2012 [53]
Jill Collins25 June 201211 February 2014 [54]
Dominic Trindade11 February 20145 January 2018 [55]
Jason Robertson5 January 201820 November 2022 [56]
Anthony Aspden20 November 2022present [57]

Shenyang

NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Broughton Robertson2 March 2019present [58]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ CA 1977: Australian Embassy, People's Republic of China [Peking/Beijing], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 26 April 2015
  2. ↑ "TRADE". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 30, 399. New South Wales, Australia. 8 June 1935. p. 19. Retrieved 4 May 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ Schevdin, Boris (2008). Emissaries of trade : a history of the Australian Trade Commissioner Service (PDF). Barton, ACT: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. p. 47. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "PROTECTING LIVES OF AUSTRALIANS". The Courier-Mail . No. 1244. Brisbane. 26 August 1937. p. 13. Retrieved 4 May 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "No New State Commissioner For Shanghai". The Advocate. Tasmania, Australia. 3 September 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ CA 1979: Australian Embassy, People's Republic of China [Nanking], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 26 April 2015
  7. 1 2 "Ambassador to China Returning". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 1949. p. 3.
  8. ↑ Whitlam hasn't dumped Taiwan, Bruce Grant, The Age , July 14, 1971, page 5
  9. ↑ Taiwan country brief, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  10. 1 2 Jacobs, Michael (8 January 1973). "China accepts Ambassador". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
  11. ↑ Kerin, John (11 May 1992). "Australia to open Consulate in Southern China" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Trade, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  12. 1 2 Carr, Bob (30 May 2013). "First Australian Consul General in Chengdu". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  13. ↑ Bishop, Julie (9 November 2014). "Address to opening of Australian Consulate-General, Chengdu, China". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  14. ↑ Yongqi, Hu (24 March 2017). "New Australian consulate general planned to facilitate appliers in Northeast China". China Daily . Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Sir F. Eggleston Appointed. Australian Minister to China". Queensland Times. Ipswisch, Queensland. 7 July 1941. p. 3.
  16. ↑ "Diplomat for China". Recorder. Port Pirie, South Australia. 18 June 1948. p. 1.
  17. ↑ "Taiwan awaits ambassador". The Canberra Times . Vol. 41, no. 11, 491. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 September 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  18. ↑ "Envoy's term finished". The Canberra Times . Vol. 43, no. 12, 375. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 July 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  19. ↑ "Envoy to China named". The Canberra Times . Vol. 43, no. 12, 390. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 August 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 12 April 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  20. 1 2 "Not to be replaced". The Canberra Times . Vol. 47, no. 13, 300. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 December 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  21. ↑ "New Ambassador to China announced". The Canberra Times. 23 October 1976. p. 1.
  22. ↑ "New envoy to China". The Canberra Times. 16 November 1979. p. 9.
  23. ↑ "Argall new envoy to China". The Canberra Times. 17 February 1984. p. 3.
  24. ↑ "Ambassador for China named". The Canberra Times. 18 April 1991. p. 4.
  25. ↑ Evans, Gareth (23 November 1995). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  26. ↑ Downer, Alexander (8 November 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government.
  27. ↑ Downer, Alexander (17 December 2002). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012.
  28. ↑ Downer, Alexander (23 November 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  29. ↑ Rudd, Kevin. "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  30. ↑ Bishop, Julie. "Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
  31. ↑ Payne, Marise (29 March 2019). "Ambassador to China" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  32. 1 2 "Australian Ambassador to China". Australian Embassy China. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  33. ↑ Payne, Marise (2019). "Alex Gallacher: Australian Ambassador inquiry". Hansard: Australian Senate . Parliament of Australia . Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  34. ↑ "Xi Jinping Accepts Credentials from Newly-appointed Ambassadors to China". United States: Consulate General of The People's Republic of China in Chicago. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  35. 1 2 Downer, Alexander (19 March 2001). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Republic of Korea" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  36. ↑ Downer, Alexander (10 October 1997). "DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: CONSUL-GENERAL IN SHANGHAI" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  37. ↑ "Mr Sam Gerovich, Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  38. ↑ "The Role of the Embassy & Consulates". Australian Embassy in Beijing PRC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2001. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  39. ↑ Smith, Stephen (8 February 2008). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the Netherlands" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  40. ↑ "The Role of the Embassy & Consulates". Australian Embassy in Beijing PRC. Archived from the original on 25 March 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  41. ↑ "Consul-General in Shanghai, China (People's Republic of): Mr Graeme Meehan". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  42. ↑ "Deputy Head of Mission to China (People's Republic of): Mr Gerald Thomson". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Archived from the original on 9 November 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  43. 1 2 "Deputy Head of Mission to China (People's Republic of): Mr Gerald Thomson". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Archived from the original on 8 September 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  44. ↑ "Deputy Head of Mission to China (People's Republic of): Mr Jason Robertson". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  45. ↑ Bishop, Julie (7 November 2016). "Consul-General in Chengdu". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  46. ↑ Payne, Marise (4 May 2021). "Consul-General in Chengdu". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  47. ↑ Evans, Gareth (25 November 1992). "Diplomatic appointment: Guangzhou" (Media Release). ParlInfo: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  48. ↑ Evans, Gareth (31 May 1996). "Appointment of Australian Consul-General, Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  49. ↑ Downer, Alexander (28 September 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  50. ↑ Downer, Alexander (11 September 2003). "Diplomatic Appointment: Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  51. ↑ "Australian Consul-General arriving Guangzhou". Australian Consulate-General, Guangzhou. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 29 January 2007. Archived from the original (Media release) on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  52. ↑ Downer, Alexander (25 October 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  53. ↑ Smith, Stephen (20 November 2009). "Diplomatic Appointment - Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  54. ↑ Carr, Bob (25 June 2012). "Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  55. ↑ Bishop, Julie (11 February 2014). "Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media release) on 13 January 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  56. ↑ Bishop, Julie (5 January 2018). "Consul-General in Guangzhou" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019.
  57. ↑ Wong, Penny (20 November 2022). "Consul-General in Guangzhou". Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 20 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  58. ↑ Payne, Marise (2 March 2019). "Consul-General in Shenyang" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021.
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