Acting PM Richard Marles has no plans to attend Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian’s speech

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says he won’t be attending the Chinese ambassador’s address at the National Press Club as he called for a de-escalation to tensions over Taiwan.

Xiao Qian will speak in Canberra on Wednesday, his first speech since his appointment to the role of ambassador this year, however Mr Marles told reporters he had no plans to be at the club.

Beijing has fired 11 ballistic missiles towards Taiwan and has carried out simulated attacks following the US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island last week.

Mr Marles, who is also defence minister, reaffirmed the government’s call for a de-escalation in the Taiwan Strait, fearing a catastrophic miscalculation.

“It is critical for the region, and it’s critical that we return to a much more peaceful and normal set of behaviours in the region and across the Taiwan Strait,” he said.

Mr Marles would not be drawn on claims made by Taiwan’s government that the Chinese drills are simulated attacks on their territory.

“People can observe what the drills are, we just call for a de-escalation ... that’s what the world needs to see at this moment,” he said.

He also wouldn’t speculate on the connection between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s increased aggression, saying the rules-based order was under pressure.

Tensions are heightened as the US and Australia work to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific after Beijing inked a security deal with the Solomon Islands earlier this year.

Beijing is also reportedly pushing for exclusive access to part of a strategic naval base in Cambodia, sparking concerns among Western allies.

While Australia’s strained relationship with China has somewhat thawed with ministerial meetings occurring post-election, Beijing has still taken aim at politicians for denouncing its tactics in the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of “finger pointing” after she last week condemned Beijing’s “disproportionate and destabilising” actions.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Australia needed to secure a submarine fleet as soon as possible given China’s more aggressive behaviour in the Pacific.

“It provides a deterrence against any adversary,” he told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Tuesday, adding that maintaining a domestic submarine industry through the trilateral AUKUS alliance was integral to Australia’s national security.

In a joint submission to the recent international nuclear non-proliferation conference, the AUKUS attempted to mitigate other nations’ concerns about Australia possessing nuclear material.

This included using welded power unions, which would make the removal of nuclear material difficult and would render the submarines inoperable.