Keating, who led his country from 1991 to 1996, said US President Barack Obama targeted China in a speech he gave to the Australian Parliament last week.

He said the Australian Government should separate itself from the recent statements made by the US.

“The whole notion of Australia as a middle power trying to project an independent foreign policy was hugely inhibited by what happened this week” he said.

He added “Of course the Chinese are worried about it and I think, you know, frankly it's going to be very hard for senior government ministers to appear in China anytime soon”.

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