James Laurenceson

James Laurenceson is Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute with the University of Technology, Sydney.

James's recent articles

Unis take foreign interference risks seriously

Unis take foreign interference risks seriously

The security risks that Australian universities face through their many and varied international connections need to be taken seriously.

Mega-thinktanks have one dangerous thing in common

Mega-thinktanks have one dangerous thing in common

With former secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Varghese undertaking a review of taxpayer dollars spent on strategic policy work, Australia's China hawks have argued a Canberra-based thinktank, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), cannot be touched.

Why Dutton has begun flying in the face of the China hawks

Why Dutton has begun flying in the face of the China hawks

As the Australian opposition leader’s rhetoric softens dramatically, the days of turning China into an election wedge appear over.

Choosing the path of diplomacy

Choosing the path of diplomacy

Sino-Australian ties show signs of great resilience, stability as leaders take positive approach.

What Albanese could seek to achieve in China visit

What Albanese could seek to achieve in China visit

Whether Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit China in 2023 remains uncertain, but the odds are favourable. Beijing has issued an invitation andAlbanesesaid that the trip remains likely. Foreign MinisterPenny Wong has confirmedthat Canberra would look to make sure that a visit can occur. But there remain two factors that might derail a visit.

The resurgence of China-Australia trade

The resurgence of China-Australia trade

Prosaic economic factors, not politics, are driving the growth in China-Australia trade, ensuring China will only become more important as Australias trading partner of choice, writes James Laurenceson.

With a new Australian government and foreign minister comes fresh hope for Australia-China relations

With a new Australian government and foreign minister comes fresh hope for Australia-China relations

An Albanese government in Canberra means an improved trajectory in Australia-China relations is a real possibility. Sure, there will be no re-set like we saw in the heady days of 2015. The world has changed; Australia and China certainly have.

China trade: the disturbing gap between US rhetoric and reality is emerging

China trade: the disturbing gap between US rhetoric and reality is emerging

The fervid declarations of US support for Australia amid China's trade sanctions count for little: the data shows Australia stands alone in paying the costs.The US does not have our back. It is grabbing our markets in China.

Australia may be standing alone on China as the US does not 'have our back'

Australia may be standing alone on China as the US does not 'have our back'

Canberra sees any repercussions for 'standing up to China' as a badge of honour. But the US is grabbing our markets one after another it's now LNG.

'Permissible' Chinese military spending, AUKUS, and the security dilemma

'Permissible' Chinese military spending, AUKUS, and the security dilemma

The view that AUKUS is a justified response to Chinas actions ignores Chinas achievements and future ambitions. It also ignores Chinas legitimate security fears.

No evidence the US has Australias back in its dispute with China, despite all the rhetoric

The US has got our back. This talking point is repeated by Australian government ministers with rising fervour, as China continues its campaign of trade punishment against Australia. Think-tank experts and media commentators amplify it further.

Will the Five Eyes stare down Chinas economic coercion? So far their self interest looks to be winning out.

Will the Five Eyes stare down Chinas economic coercion? So far their self interest looks to be winning out.

For at least some products , Australia may not so much be left alone on the playing field as substituted off and only able to watch from the sidelines.

Establishing the facts of Australia's China policy since 2016

With the relationship between Australia and China now in a stalemate with the possibility it could get worse, leading local protagonists have taken to telling a story of how things came to be. But its in no small part a self-serving tale, seemingly designed to deflect having to take some responsibility.

Stalemate in Australia-China relations

The People's Republic of China continues to reject overtures for high-level ministerial dialogue while maintaining that Australia bears the lions share of responsibility to create a situation in which the relationship can be improved.

China enters 2021 a stronger, more influential power and Australia may feel the squeeze even more

Great power competition in the Asia-Pacific region has been building for years. But COVID-19 has turbo-charged the shifts taking place and China is finishing 2020 in a significantly stronger position compared with the US than when the year started.

Why Australia is on its own in its trade conflict with China (Australia-China Relations Institute Dec 2, 2020)

As China piles on thetrade pressure, the reality of Australias economic place in the world has been laid bare: it is on its own.

Clear-eyed responses as well as assessments needed on the PRC

Being clear-eyed about China under Xi Jinping is one thing. But managing the relationship effectively also requires Australia to be clear-eyed about the effectiveness of our policy options in response.

PM strikes the right balance in managing China ties

Allowing the federal government to terminate deals with foreign powers is better than going down the Trump road of bans and aggressive decoupling from China.

We should seize the olive branch offered by China.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says thatAustralia must speak with one voicewhen engaging with foreign governments and their related entities. All eyes are on Beijing.

The Myth of Chinese Money in Australia

Fears amongst the Australian public of China buying up the country run deep. Opportunistic politicians and commentators have long shown a willingness to tap into this unease to boost their own following.

JAMES LAURENCESON.- China Trade Questions confound Australia's Indo-Pacific shift.(EAF 5.1.2020)

The Indo-Pacific, stretching from the eastern Indian Ocean to the Pacific, is the Australian governmentsframingof the international environment for its foreign policy.

JAMES LAURENCESON. China in a time of change.

China and the Technology Race To deliver rising living standards to its citizens, China needs to move up the production value chain. Technological progress and innovation are at the heart of this. That is why US measures to restrict Chinas access to technology are viewed by Beijing as far more serious than tariffs: the former is tantamount to an attempt at containment. China spends nearly the same amount the US does on research and development (R&D), closing in on $US500 billion every year.

JAMES LAURENCESON. Morrisons visit to the US shows his common ground with China (AFR 25-9-19)

Scan the headlines generated by Scott Morrisons trip to the United States and you could get the impression that the Australian government is increasingly tilting towards supporting Washington in its economic war against Beijing.

JAMES LAURENCESON. The efficacy of being very vocal: Australia and human rights in China (ACRI)

Last weeks news that the Australian Dr Yang Hengjun was being moved to a criminal facility in China was, to use Foreign Minister Marise Payneswords, deeply disappointing to say the least.

JAMES LAURENCESON, MICHAEL ZHOU. Small Grey Rhinos: Understanding Australia's Economic Dependence on China (Australia-China Relations Institute)

Australia lives with an acute fear of abandonment. In security terms this fear has underpinned Australian foreign policy settings for decades. Recently, doubts about the reliability of the United States as Australias security guarantor have sent Australian government ministers on a mission to convince America that ongoing and expanded engagement with Australias neighbourhood is in its own interests.

JAMES LAURENCESON. Australia's China debate.

Australias China debate is frequently cast in terms of doves versus hawks, with the former also receiving the tag of being pro-China and the latter designated anti-China. In fact, the common ground between these two groups is expansive.

JAMES LAURENCESON. American Interest

Australia is a US ally, and Washington is inevitably interested in understanding Canberras approach to managing its relationship with Beijing. It can also be expected that the US will seek to influence the approach that Australia adopts in view of its own national interests. There is nothing inherently untoward about this. But with the US switching to an adversarial stance on China, Australia will need to have its eyes wide open about US attempts at influence.

James Laurenceson and Hannah Bretherton. What Australians really think about a rising China.

Current Affairs What does Chinas rise as a major power mean for Australia? The answer depends on who you ask. In March 2015 the Sydney Morning Heralds International Editor, Peter Hartcher, described China as a fascist state that bullies its own citizens and neighbouring countries alike. That about sums up the China threat view. Yet theres also no shortage of CEOs gushing with praise for Chinese government policies that are expected to deliver more than 850 million people into the ranks of the middle class by the end of next decade. Australian politicians spend a great deal...

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