Australia should continue engaging with China on its own terms
six-day visit to China cannot be overstated. It was not only his first visit to China after his re-election, but also the fourth meeting with Chinese President
Xi Jinping
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Bilateral ties had previously been marred by bitter trade disputes and mutual recriminations, which have improved since Albanese took office in 2022. While Albanese's visit was a continuation of his efforts to strengthen ties with China and secure economic gains, it came amid growing geopolitical unease.
The Aukus agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States is considered a central pillar of Australia's long-term security architecture. However, doubts about the fate of the pact – under which the US was to sell Australia at least three nuclear-powered submarines – emerged after Trump's election, given the views of members of his administration, such as Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defence for policy. Last month, it became clear that the Trump administration had launched a review of the agreement.
Potentially costing Australia up to US$368 billion, the pact was already facing domestic criticism due to its heavy price tag. There are now fears that the Trump administration may demand that Australia not only pay more for its nuclear-powered submarines but also guarantee support for the US in a potential
conflict over Taiwan
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Australia is still committed to its
one-China policy , and some believe that the Trump administration is not united behind Colby's thinking. The British special adviser on Aukus, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, also dismissed fears over the Aukus review. Nevertheless, given the unpredictable nature of US foreign policy, Aukus is a thorny issue in the context of Australia-China relations.
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