Chinese Delegation Blows up at Anti-Conflict Diamond Meeting to Sideline Taiwan

May 2, 2017 | Robbie Gramer
View Original

Australia kick-started an international meeting on conflict diamonds, the Kimberly Process, on Monday with an indigenous-themed welcome ceremony. It was supposed to be a nice touch to give its international visitors a quintessentially Aussie welcome, but the official Chinese delegation had other plans.

As a senior Australian official began to introduce the ceremony and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, the Chinese delegation hijacked the microphone and loudly interrupted. They were incensed a Taiwanese delegation was invited to the four-day meeting in Perth. The continual disruptions prompted the Australians to quietly force the Taiwanese delegation to leave.