Getting China Right: Australia’s policy options for dealing with China

Release of Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) Strategic Insight No. 19/2005

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has today released a new ASPI Strategic Insight publication titled ‘Getting China Right: Australia’s policy options for dealing with China’, which examines Australian policy towards China. 

Authored by Director of Programs Peter Jennings, the Insight argues the case for an Australian policy towards China that balances our long-term interest in having both a sound economic relationship and growing political and strategic contacts with China.

‘Australia’s view of China is caught between two opposing emotions: optimism and fear. We are enthralled with one of the world’s most dynamic economies, whose growth underpins Australia’s prosperity. But we are suspicious of China’s authoritarian political system, and worried about their potential to turn economic power into military and strategic muscle.’ Jennings says.

‘Moreover our links with China need not be a sum-zero game, where Australian gains in Beijing deliver us losses in Washington. In broad terms these are the objectives of Australia’s China policy right now.’

Jennings states that: ‘The test of Australia’s China policy will come over the issues that give rise to serious policy differences. But the growth of the bilateral relationship has led to rapid shifts in Canberra’s attitude to China; political relations have seldom been warmer.’

The ASPI Strategic Insight ooffers several new policy initiatives designed to promote Australia’s interests in China and to balance these interests against other vital national objectives.