People are silhouetted against the Sydney Opera House at sunset in Australia, November 2, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Fifty years ago, just days before the secret but historic trip to China by former United States national security adviser Henry Kissinger in July 1971, then Australian Labor opposition leader Gough Whitlam led a delegation to Beijing. Yet the Australian trip, which included Labor members of Parliament, political advisers and China experts, was condemned by then conservative Australian prime minister William McMahon. McMahon had believed he was following the American line toward China, oblivious to the moves being played in secret by Washington to restore diplomatic relations with Beijing.