More than a wolf warrior: China’s top diplomat begins Canberra charm offensive

September 24, 2026 — 5:27pm

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The days of the diplomatic deep freeze felt a long time ago as Beijing’s new ambassador to Australia rose to a podium at the Chinese embassy for a ceremony marking the assumption of his official duties.

Bonhomie was in the air on a dazzling spring day in the capital as Canberra’s diplomatic elite gathered to catch their first glimpse of Liu Jinsong, who presented his credentials to Governor-General Sam Mostyn last week. A soprano sung the soaring song I Love You, China; waiters laid out a traditional Chinese banquet of prawn dumplings and lamb chops.

Among those in the crowd were India’s high commissioner Nagesh Sing, Australia’s former ambassador to China Graham Fletcher and Israel’s deputy ambassador Amir Meron. Unsurprisingly, Meron did not exchange pleasantries with Iran’s charge d’ affaires Hossein Talebi (who has led the Iranian embassy since the nation’s ambassador was spectacularly expelled last year over the firebombing of Jewish sites in Sydney........

© The Sydney Morning Herald