Latest news with #AustraliaChina
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
China boasts ‘reliable' partner amid Trump turmoil after PM's trip
Anthony Albanese has landed back in Australia after six days abroad touting Australia's trade and tourism offerings in China. The Prime Minister has been keen to reframe the Australia-China relationship in friendlier terms, steering away from the increasingly militaristic tone to focus on a peaceful coexistence ensured through deeper economic interdependency. 'Overwhelmingly, what we discuss as moving forward is issues of today and tomorrow, rather than the past,' Mr Albanese told reporters on his final day in Chengdu, a major research hub in western China. 'What I speak about is the potential that's there to grow the relationship, to develop further economic ties. 'We – of course, as I've said repeatedly – we co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must, but we don't want those disagreements to define our relationship either. 'So what we do is talk about how we can co-operate further in the future.' His message has gone down well in Beijing, with Chinese state media eagerly lapping up every photo op and flattering remark Mr Albanese made. The Global Times is a leading English-language propaganda mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Doing its best to imitate a Western-style publication, it is often used to circulate the CCP's various pet peeves and routinely takes scathing shots at Australia. But the Chinese government tabloid has had only good things to say after Mr Albanese met with Xi Jinping and other party top brass in the middle of the trip. 'The most important insight this gives us is that treating each other as equals, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and engaging in mutually beneficial co-operation serve the fundamental interests of both China and Australia and the two peoples,' it cited the Chinese President as saying in his remarks at the top of the big meet — a striking similarity to Mr Albanese's own words. More tellingly, it summed up the state visit as a revival of 'Australia's independent China policy', speaking to the elephant in the room. Donald Trump has made clear China is the main game when it comes to the foreign policy focus of his second administration. Its exploding middle class and relentless growth is evidence of an economic model that could rival the US. Similarly, China's rapid expansion of its nuclear and conventional arsenals has raised questions about how it might use its might, sparking warnings from Washington that Mr Xi is eyeing an invasion of Taiwan. It is with that concern that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded the Albanese government hike Australia's defence spending to at least 3.5 per cent — a request Mr Albanese has rejected even as his deputy and defence minister, Richard Marles, said China's military build-up is driving 'security anxiety' in Canberra. Brushing off the Trump administration's warnings as needless warmongering, the resistance to the US defence demand has not gone unnoticed in Beijing, which has eagerly seized on global trade uncertainty driven by tariffs. In an opinion piece on Thursday, the Global Times said Mr Albanese's 'trip has come at a time of global turmoil instigated by the US'. 'The prime minister's critics are accusing him of prioritising the China relationship over the US relationship, but this is a misrepresentation,' it read. 'The simple reality is that China is a reliable partner.' The piece went on to say 'Australia's relationship with the US has deteriorated' due to tariffs imposed 'despite Australia being the US' most reliable ally'. 'The contrast between China's steady reliability and the US' erratic demands is being noticed by the Australian people – opinion polls in Australia show falling confidence in the US and rising confidence in China,' it claimed. Throughout the trip, Mr Albanese has leaned heavily on his mantra of co-operating with China where possible and disagreeing where necessary, making clear chasmic differences remain between Canberra and Beijing. But his messaging from the glitz of central Shanghai, to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and the panda breeding capital of Chengdu, is that peace through trade and people-to-people ties are the best ways to navigate the challenges in the relationship. It is not a new approach — the EU took it with post-Soviet Russia and was blindsided after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Whether Mr Albanese's China push will make Australia vulnerable down the line will be a matter for future generations.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Reliable': China's big call on Albo trip
Anthony Albanese has landed back in Australia after six days abroad touting Australia's trade and tourism offerings in China. The Prime Minister has been keen to reframe the Australia-China relationship in friendlier terms, steering away from the increasingly militaristic tone to focus on a peaceful coexistence ensured through deeper economic interdependency. 'Overwhelmingly, what we discuss as moving forward is issues of today and tomorrow, rather than the past,' Mr Albanese told reporters on his final day in Chengdu, a major research hub in western China. 'What I speak about is the potential that's there to grow the relationship, to develop further economic ties. 'We – of course, as I've said repeatedly – we co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must, but we don't want those disagreements to define our relationship either. 'So what we do is talk about how we can co-operate further in the future.' His message has gone down well in Beijing, with Chinese state media eagerly lapping up every photo op and flattering remark Mr Albanese made. The Global Times is a leading English-language propaganda mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Doing its best to imitate a Western-style publication, it is often used to circulate the CCP's various pet peeves and routinely takes scathing shots at Australia. But the Chinese government tabloid has had only good things to say after Mr Albanese met with Xi Jinping and other party top brass in the middle of the trip. 'The most important insight this gives us is that treating each other as equals, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and engaging in mutually beneficial co-operation serve the fundamental interests of both China and Australia and the two peoples,' it cited the Chinese President as saying in his remarks at the top of the big meet — a striking similarity to Mr Albanese's own words. More tellingly, it summed up the state visit as a revival of 'Australia's independent China policy', speaking to the elephant in the room. Donald Trump has made clear China is the main game when it comes to the foreign policy focus of his second administration. Its exploding middle class and relentless growth is evidence of an economic model that could rival the US. Similarly, China's rapid expansion of its nuclear and conventional arsenals has raised questions about how it might use its might, sparking warnings from Washington that Mr Xi is eyeing an invasion of Taiwan. It is with that concern that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth demanded the Albanese government hike Australia's defence spending to at least 3.5 per cent — a request Mr Albanese has rejected even as his deputy and defence minister, Richard Marles, said China's military build-up is driving 'security anxiety' in Canberra. Brushing off the Trump administration's warnings as needless warmongering, the resistance to the US defence demand has not gone unnoticed in Beijing, which has eagerly seized on global trade uncertainty driven by tariffs. In an opinion piece on Thursday, the Global Times said Mr Albanese's 'trip has come at a time of global turmoil instigated by the US'. 'The prime minister's critics are accusing him of prioritising the China relationship over the US relationship, but this is a misrepresentation,' it read. 'The simple reality is that China is a reliable partner.' The piece went on to say 'Australia's relationship with the US has deteriorated' due to tariffs imposed 'despite Australia being the US' most reliable ally'. 'The contrast between China's steady reliability and the US' erratic demands is being noticed by the Australian people – opinion polls in Australia show falling confidence in the US and rising confidence in China,' it claimed. Throughout the trip, Mr Albanese has leaned heavily on his mantra of co-operating with China where possible and disagreeing where necessary, making clear chasmic differences remain between Canberra and Beijing. But his messaging from the glitz of central Shanghai, to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and the panda breeding capital of Chengdu, is that peace through trade and people-to-people ties are the best ways to navigate the challenges in the relationship. It is not a new approach — the EU took it with post-Soviet Russia and was blindsided after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Whether Mr Albanese's China push will make Australia vulnerable down the line will be a matter for future generations.
ABC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Albanese's China mission - managing a complex relationship in a world of shifting alliances
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese leaves for China on Saturday, confident most Australians back the government's handling of relations with our most important economic partner and the leading strategic power in Asia. Mr Albanese's domestic critics have lambasted him for meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping before United States President Donald Trump. They are also aggrieved at his refusal to label China a security threat. But neither criticism really stacks up. An Albanese-Trump meeting would have happened last month on the sidelines of a G7 gathering in Canada. It was Mr Trump who left early, standing up more leaders than just Albanese. Nor is Mr Albanese the first Australian prime minister to meet a Chinese president before an American one. His predecessor Tony Abbott caught up with Mr Xi a few weeks after coming to office in 2013, before he had a chance to meet President Barack Obama. 'Friends, not foes' Meanwhile, polling indicates just one in five Australians see the relationship with China first and foremost as 'a threat to be confronted'. Rather, a clear two-thirds majority see it as 'a complex relationship to be managed'. Mr Albanese is also regarded as more competent than his opposition counterpart in handling Australia's foreign policy generally – and better at managing the China relationship specifically. The prime minister's Chinese hosts also have an incentive to ensure his visit is a successful one. In the past fortnight, China's ambassador in Canberra, Xiao Qian, has penned opinion pieces in two of Australia's biggest media outlets, insisting Australia and China are 'friends, not foes' and touting the 'comprehensive turnaround' in bilateral ties since Labor won government in May 2022. Beijing and Washington view each other as their geopolitical priority. Beijing can make it harder for Washington to enlist security allies such as Canberra in this rivalry by maintaining its own strong and constructive bilateral ties with Australia. And quite apart from the competition with the US, China relied on Australia last year as its fifth largest import source. Plenty of complaints None of this is to say Mr Albanese's visit will be easy, because Australia-China relations are rarely smooth. Anthony Albanese will visit China for the second time in his tenure. ( Reuters: Athit Perawongmetha ) Canberra continues to have many complaints about China's international behaviour. For example, Foreign Minister Penny Wong recently signed a joint statement with her counterparts in Washington, Tokyo and New Delhi expressing 'serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions' by China in the East and South China Seas, and the 'abrupt constriction […] of key supply chains'. Ms Wong has also said the government remains 'appalled' by the treatment of Australians imprisoned in China, including Dr Yang Jun, who is facing espionage charges he strongly denies. Defence Minister Richard Marles has voiced Canberra's alarm at Beijing's 'no limits agreement' with Moscow, and claimed China has engaged in the biggest conventional military build-up since the end of World War II. However, this assessment is contested by independent Australian analysts. Beijing also has plenty of complaints. They include Canberra's ongoing pursuit of closer military cooperation with the US and UK through the AUKUS pact. There is also the commitment to forcing the sale of the lease to operate the Port of Darwin that is currently held by a Chinese company. Reliable trading partner Mr Albanese has already made clear his visit to China will have a strong economic focus. While grappling with security challenges, any Australian government, Labor or Coalition, must face the reality that last year, local companies sold more to China – worth $196 billion – than our next four largest markets combined. China is also, by far, Australia's biggest supplier, putting downward pressure on the cost of living. China is Australia's largest supplier, and the fifth largest buyer of Chinese goods globally. ( Reuters: Chalinee Thirasupa ) Research produced by Curtin University, commissioned by the Australia-China Business Council, finds trade with China increases disposable income of the average Australian household by $2,600, or 4.6 per cent per person. In an ideal world, Australia would have a more diversified trading mix. But again, any Australian government or business must grapple with the reality that obvious major alternative markets, like the US, are not only less interested in local goods and services, but are walking away from their past trade commitments. Under the Australia-US Free Trade Agreement signed two decades ago, Australian exporters selling to the US faced an average tariff of just 0.1 per cent. But nowadays Washington applies a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on most Australian imports. Meanwhile, owing to the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement struck in 2015, Beijing applies an average tariff of just 1.1 per cent. This also explains Alabanese's response when he was asked in April if he would support Trump's trade war against China: "It would be extraordinary if the Australian response was 'thank you' and we will help to further hurt our economy." Likewise, Trade Minister Don Farrell is adamant Australia's interests will determine the Albanese government's choices, not 'what the Americans may or may not want'. "We don't want to do less business with China, we want to do more business with China." Deeper trade ties with Asia, including China, are not just about making a buck. Wong has stressed the national security implications of a strong economic relationship: "[It is] an investment in our security. Stability and prosperity are mutually reinforcing." All of this means Albanese's six-day visit to China is shaping up to be time well spent. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.
