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Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 15:37
Engaging China meets demand of Australian national interests
By Colin Mackerras
Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 15:37 By Colin Mackerras

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, second left, arrives on stage to speak to party supporters after his opponent concedes in the federal election in Sydney, Australia, May 19, 2019. Accompanying him on stage are his wife, Jenny, left, and daughters Lily and Abbey, right. (RICK RYCROFT / AP)

The surprise victory of Australia’s conservative coalition in the May 18 federal election may have triggered a major upset, but it is unclear whether a change of government would have made any substantial difference to the country’s China relations.

In the lead-up to the election, political pundits, polls and betting agencies favored the Labor Party, with its leader Bill Shorten expected to replace conservative coalition leader Scott Morrison as prime minister.

Morrison’s win defied pre-poll projections and led to Shorten resigning his leadership of the Labor Party.

Throughout the election campaign, international affairs received a very low profile, with Foreign Minister Marise Payne staying more or less invisible. The shadow minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, whose father is Malaysian Chinese, made more appearances than Payne and came across as more positive about China. For example, Wong denied any suggestion of China’s rise as a “threat” to Australia.

Australia may not need to make any formal “choices” between the US and China. However, Australia’s national interests demand it follow New Zealand in shifting its balance of relations away from the US and toward China

An issue in the spotlight is the role the Chinese-language media played in the election. One report suggested that some major WeChat sites had promoted the Labor Party quite heavily. But on election day, a public Chinese-language poster (in full-form characters) appeared to promote a vote for the coalition as the “correct” position.

Another key issue is Australia’s attitude to the United States. In public statements, both coalition and Labor spokespeople were very supportive of Australia’s alliance with the US. On the other hand, some people within the Labor Party would like to see Australia trend more toward China.

A good example is of former prime minister Paul Keating of the Labor Party, who held office from 1991 to 1996. After the Labor Party’s policy launch on May 5, he gave an interview to two journalists from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He castigated Australian intelligence personnel and an Australian adviser on China to the Malcolm Turnbull government (2015 to 2018) for making Australia “berko” (berserk or totally mad) in their approach to Beijing.

Keating appeared to want to push much more toward China. Shorten and Wong immediately disagreed with him publicly, but many in the Labor Party and members of the public think otherwise.

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Another worrying issue is the attitude toward Chinese communications giant Huawei. The Labor Party has expressed support for the coalition’s policy of banning Huawei from Australia’s 5G communications system on security grounds. While Britain and New Zealand take a different position, both Australia’s main parties are very much in line with the US over this.

This appears to be a commercial issue and not a political one. To ban Huawei is needlessly offensive, because it shows a lack of trust that is key to a good relationship. It also sends a negative signal on how welcome Chinese investment is in Australia.

READ MORE: China challenges Australia’s 5G ban

Chinese investment in Australia showed a decline year-on-year from 2017 to 2018. That can only be negative for both the bilateral relationship and for Australia’s economy.

On the other hand, bilateral trade and tourism relations are in good shape and booming. China is still by far Australia’s top trading partner. The value of bilateral trade in 2018 was about US$192 billion, which was 17.5 percent more than in 2017.

Also on the positive side, on March 19, Foreign Minister Payne formally announced a government grant of A$44 million over five years for a new body called the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

This replaces the Australia-China Council, which for many years has supported educational and cultural relations between the two countries. The foundation’s functions will expand to cooperation and assistance in agriculture, health, environment and energy.

Payne said that it would “turbocharge our national effort in engaging China”. That seems a rather positive attempt to reset the bilateral relationship.

China is still the No. 1 source of international students in Australian universities. This is very valuable for both countries. Chinese students contribute greatly both academically and economically, and the more of them there are the better. Cultural relations are still doing very well and should be further expanded.

Meanwhile, some Australian media platforms, including the ABC, seem to be going out of their way to undermine China. Although they may have had some success with this, survey material suggests that good will toward China among ordinary Australians is still very strong and widespread.

ALSO READ: Chinese-Australians need to come together

Relations can recover under the present coalition government, and I think they will. But perhaps the Labor Party could have done better.

Take the New Zealand example as a positive one. The crucial issue here is the US alliance. It is not necessary to abrogate the 1951 Anzus security treaty involving Australia, New Zealand and the United States. But Australia should definitely follow New Zealand in downgrading it and being less compliant to American wishes. The architecture of world power is changing while China’s rise will continue.

Australia may not need to make any formal “choices” between the US and China. However, Australia’s national interests demand it follows New Zealand in shifting its balance of relations away from the US and toward China.

Professor Emeritus Colin Mackerras is an Australian Sinologist, based at Griffith University in Queensland. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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