Relations between China and Australia have worsened over time, beyond just the aspect
of international trade, as political tensions exacerbate between both countries. Under Scott
Morrison's government, Australia's hostility toward China had grown following a set of
undesirable moves by China. However, the same may soon change with the Labor government
coming into power.
Anthony Albanese's centre-left Labor Party has formed the new government, taking control
after the Coalition. The new government is set to bring forth radical changes in key
areas such as climate change policy, aged care, childcare, and even international relations.
Experts have suggested that Australia's relations with China may improve under Anthony Albanese's
leadership. The Labor Party has expressed interest in maintaining better and more stable
ties with China. This could help establish long-term trade benefits and improve prospects
with the country.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese recognises the need to maintain relations with Asian countries
that are on track to becoming giant economies. He believes that the easiest way to develop
better political relations is to develop stronger person-to-person ties. Soon to be Prime Minister
Anthony Albanese has also expressed interest in strengthening the bond with other Asian
countries such as Indonesia, India, and Japan. The challenge of re-aligning political relations
with China could be extremely tough for the newly elected government. Under the previous
government, a series of bitter events ultimately led to China imposing tariffs on Australian
imports. The breakdown of political relations between the countries started when Coalition
leader Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
This was followed by heavy sanctioning by China on Australian exports such as beef,
barley, wine and rock lobster. At that time, responding strictly to China's actions seemed
like the only reasonable response. Thus, reforming the dampened relations could require the Labour
government's extra effort. Why does China matter? China forms a sizeable market for
Australian exports, making it a critical trading partner for Australia. The Asian superpower
has been quickly garnering attention throughout the Pacific after signing a controversial
security pact between Beijing and the Solomon Islands. The influence of Asian nations
has been increasingly visible in the Labor Party's election agenda. For instance, Labor
will also be looking at building relations with Jakarta in areas like maritime safety.
Albanese has claimed that the country is slated to become a superpower and has even planned
to visit it after commencing his Prime Ministerial run. The Quad meeting, slated to take place
today, is also a key element affecting Australia's relationship with China. It is one of Australia's
main security partnerships and could be a chance for Australia to work with key allies
such as India, Japan, and the US to counter China's influence. Referencing the Quad, Anthony
Albanese stated that his allies are his priority. Thus, the new government might take up rebuilding
relations with China later. Overall, it would need more than just a policy reform to bring
back the lost momentum between both countries. China's reactions have landed it a bitter
spot among most Australians. Recent surveys have suggested that many Australians still
think China is a security threat. A change in public perception remains an exhausting
process, unlike the resumption of international trade.