List of Australian Ambassadors to China

Ambassador of Australia to China
Incumbent Jan Elizabeth Adams since 2016
Style	Her Excellency
Nominator	Prime Minister of Australia
Appointer	Governor General of Australia
Inaugural holder	Frederic Eggleston
Formation	1941
Website	Australian Embassy, China

The Australian Ambassador 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 Peoples Republic of China (PRC). The position has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and has resided in Beijing since 1973.^[1]

Posting history

Australia's legation was first accredited to the Republic of China and was located in Chungking (Qongqing) 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 Nanking (Nanjing) from June 1946 to 1949, with the embassy located first at 34 Peiping Road and then 26 Yihe Road, Nanjing.^[2] 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.^[3] In 1966 Australia recognised Taiwan as the "Republic of China", and opened an Embassy in Taipei.^[4] In 1972, diplomatic relations were ended following the decision of the government of Gough Whitlam to recognise the People's Republic of China and the embassy closed in 1973.^[5]

After diplomatic recognition of the PRC in 1972, Australia established an embassy in Beijing in 1973,^[6] followed by consulates-general in Shanghai (1984), Hong Kong (upgraded from Australian Commission, 1986), Guangzhou (1992) and Chengdu (2013). The latter was opened as a following the release of the Asian Century White Paper by the Gillard government, following calls for an expanded diplomatic footprint in China. From 1991 to 2008, the Ambassador to China was also accredited to Mongolia. As a result of Australia's recognition of the PRC in 1973, Australia has no diplomatic representation with Taiwan and continues economic, trade and cultural relations with the Australian Office in Taipei.

Office-holders

Building of the former Australian Legation in Chongqing, 1941–1946.

Ministers to the Republic of China

Name	Start of term	End of term	References
Frederic Eggleston	1941	1944	[7]
Keith Officer (Chargé d'affaires)	1944	1946
Douglas Copland	1946	1948

Ambassador to the Republic of China

Name	Start of term	End of term	References
Keith Officer	1948	1949	[3][8]

Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Name	Start of term	End of term	References
Walter Handmer (Chargé d'Affaires)	1966	1966	[9]
Frank Bell Cooper	1966	1969	[10]
Hugh Dunn	1969	1972	[11][12]
Tony Godfrey-Smith (Chargé d'Affaires)	1972	1973	[12]

Ambassadors to the People's Republic of China

Name	Start of term	End of term	References
Stephen FitzGerald	1973	1976	[6]
Garry Woodard	1976	1980	[13]
Hugh Alexander Dunn	1980	1984	[14]
Dennis Argall	1984	1985	[15]
Ross Garnaut	1985	1988
David Sadleir	1988	1991
Michael Lightowler	1991	1996	[16]
Ric Smith	1996	2000	[17]
David Irvine	2000	2003	[18]
Alan Thomas	2003	2007	[19]
Geoff Raby	2007	2011	[20]
Frances Adamson	2011	2015	[21]
Jan Elizabeth Adams	2016	present	[22]

References

1. CA 1977: Australian Embassy, Peoples Republic of China [Peking/Beijing], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 26 April 2015
2. CA 1979: Australian Embassy, Peoples Republic of China [Nanking], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 26 April 2015
3. "Ambassador to China Returning". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 1949. p. 3.
4. Whitlam hasn't dumped Taiwan, Bruce Grant, The Age, July 14, 1971, page 5
5. Taiwan country brief, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
6. Jacobs, Michael (8 January 1973). "China accepts Ambassador". The Canberra Times. p. 3.
7. "Sir F. Eggleston Appointed. Australian Minister to China". Queensland Times. Ipswisch, Queensland. 7 July 1941. p. 3.
8. "Diplomat for China". Recorder. Port Pirie, South Australia. 18 June 1948. p. 1.
9. "Taiwan awaits ambassador". The Canberra Times. 41, (11,491). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 September 1966. p. 5. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
10. "Envoy's term finished". The Canberra Times. 43, (12,375). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 July 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "Envoy to China named". The Canberra Times. 43, (12,390). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 August 1969. p. 11. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "Not to be replaced". The Canberra Times. 47, (13,300). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 December 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 12 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "New Ambassador to China announced". The Canberra Times. 23 October 1976. p. 1.
14. "New envoy to China". The Canberra Times. 16 November 1979. p. 9.
15. "Argall new envoy to China". The Canberra Times. 17 February 1984. p. 3.
16. "Ambassador for China named". The Canberra Times. 18 April 1991. p. 4.
17. Evans, Gareth (23 November 1995). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government.
18. Downer, Alexander (8 November 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government.
19. Downer, Alexander (17 December 2002). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012.
20. Downer, Alexander (23 November 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government.
21. Rudd, Kevin. "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
22. Bishop, Julie. "Ambassador to China" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.

External links

• Australian Embassy, China