Who is Penny Wong, Australia's new foreign minister?

Born in Malaysia, the openly gay lawmaker is likely to be tested by Beijing

Penny Wong smiles as she introduces Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese ahead of his election victory speech early Sunday in Sydney. © AP

RURIKA IMAHASHI, Nikkei staff writer

May 24, 2022 15:51 JST

SYDNEY -- A day after being sworn in as Australia's first foreign-born foreign minister, Penny Wong was thrown straight into the diplomatic fray on Tuesday as she accompanied new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the Quad summit in Tokyo.

Wong brings a lot of experience to the role, having previously served as climate and finance minister and as shadow foreign minister since 2016. She will need these chops to help a prime minister with little diplomatic experience navigate the spillover from the Ukraine war and an acrimonious relationship with China.