A former Australian ambassador to Beijing believes China is presenting itself as a responsible major power by making fresh diplomatic overtures to Australia and resisting the temptation to take political advantage of US President Donald Trump's coronavirus diagnosis.
On the eve of high-profile "Quad" security meetings between Australia, the US, India and Japan in Tokyo, Geoff Raby, ambassador from 2007 to 2011, said Beijing was stepping back from pressuring American allies as the US heads towards an election and it seeks to cool diplomatic tensions on multiple fronts.
