China looms large in the Australian psyche. On a practical level, what happens in China largely determines the success of global action to deal with climate change, the profitability of our rural economy and the financing of our universities. Our national leaders are concerned about rising tensions in our region and the interplay of US-China relations. How are we to find our way through media doom and gloom and come to grips with the reality of China?
Pearls and Irritations offers one of the few avenues for alternative perspectives on the complex issues of Chinese domestic developments and bilateral and international relations. Over the next few months, we have invited some leading experts and commentators in various fields to contribute their views and share their experiences of dealing with China.
We shall not gloss over the difficulties or hide the problems, but we shall also avoid the constant negativity of the mainstream media who unfailingly put the worst possible construction on any news about China. We shall highlight the upside of collaboration and exchange. In this way, we hope to present to the concerned reader a more balanced view of developments in China and point the way forward for Australia-China relations.
Those relations must, both now and in the future, be based on what is best for Australia, its people, its culture and its economy. They must also take into account existing regional and international commitments, although these should not be the sole determinant of our decisions about how to engage with our important neighbour.
These matters are urgent. Over the next few months, we shall see a new ambassador posted to China and more high-level government contacts, possibly including a visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Albanese. Both China and Australia have to engage and hopefully agree to work towards resolution of pressing international problems – the war in Ukraine, global warming, food security, pandemic control, nuclear proliferation, cyber security and many other issues.
There is no time to waste.
Behind the Red Curtain: Decoding Chinas institutional logics
Instead of simply aligning their interests with the US, it is critical for US allies such as Australia to find a new balance in the great power rivalry between Washington and Beijing, and to develop their own strategic approach toward China. Among other things, this will require an understanding of how policy is formulated behind Chinas red curtains.
Biden: Chinese among bad folks who do bad things
At a political fundraiser in Utah on 10 August, U.S. President Joe Biden described Chinas economy as a ticking time bomb, adding that Thats not good because when bad folks have problems, they do bad things. Its not only an unusually undiplomatic comment, but an unfair one that borders on the ridiculous.
The China Threat: Can we escape the historical legacy of Anti-Chinese Racism?
How ironic that mainstream newspapers and conservative commentators should lambast former prime minister Paul Keating for living in the past when he denounced the AUKUS agreement and the Labor governments fulsome support of it. It was, of course, the AUKUS agreement itself, entered into by Scott Morrison, Boris Johnson and Joe Biden in 2022, that was the real blast from the past. Their declared solidarity in confronting what they defined as Chinese assertiveness echoed white mens defensive transnational identifications of more than 120 years ago when first faced with the rise of Asia.
Anti-China rhetoric threatens thriving technology partnerships with China
Australias existing relationships and collaborations with China give Australian Industry and consumers a head start in the cost-effective use of some of the most important technologies of the future, including those vital to achieving net zero emissions. Most countries would give anything to be at the forefront of such developments, but Australian University researchers are already there, working very closely with many key people, institutions, and industries in China. But much of the current anti-China rhetoric is ill-informed and is threatening to demolish these productive and well-established links with China.
Australia-China relations are stabilising
After three years pause, the Australia-China High-Level Dialogue held its 7th meeting in Beijing on 7 September. This continues the process of stabilisation in bilateral relations since the Albanese government came to power 16 months ago. A closed-door meeting where no extensive media coverage was possible, it was nonetheless understood that the two sides considered the resumption of the dialogue a good sign of progress and exchanges of views on major bilateral issues took place.
Upholding peace as China crosses the threshold of world power
Today, we live in an era of high tension between China, our largest trading partner and the US, our closest ally. We risk being goaded into war by the Australian and American hawks and their Chinese equivalents in reaction. Of seeing our sovereignty eroded and becoming the USS Terra Australis the largest aircraft carrier in the US Pacific Fleet. We should, therefore, do all in our power to ease conflict by strengthening all that upholds peace.
I wouldnt start from here: Advice on Australia-China relations
Engaging China: How Australia can lead the way again (Sydney University Press 2023) reviews most aspects of the Australia-China relations and proposes useful ways to develop them for the national benefit. Jointly edited by Jamie Reilly and Jingdong Yuan, it includes contributions from thirteen scholars, journalists and former diplomats, a foreword by former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and a postscript by former Ambassador Stephen FitzGerald. It does not apologise for its advocacy of greater engagement in a productive and secure manner.
In the Australia-China relationship, Australia will always follow the US-A repost from October 16,2023
From Chinas perspective, Australia will always follow the US no matter what. And the US is out to contain China there is nothing that China could do to change that. Australia has made relatively little effort to change this perception. This means for China, there is little point in putting much effort into dealing with Australia directly. The only way for the China-Australia relationship to be noticeably improved is for the China-US relationship to be improved first. This all sounds dismal. But in fact, nothing is inevitable. Both sides have agency to change those perceptions.
China and the apocalypse: How the West reinvents the end of history
After China entered the period of reform and openness in the 1980s, Western liberalism, embracing a form of apocalyptic modernity, adhered to the fantasy that China would become like us. What it meant in fact was that China would become like us but be subservient to us. If China was not going to become like us [and be subservient to us] it had to be put in its place. It is time to call this out.
Looking on the bright side: Report from Beijing
Australian Studies scholars in China are optimistic that relations can get back to normal. This is the impression I gained from a recent symposium at one of the major Australian Studies Centres in that country. University colleagues I met while in Beijing were all encouraged by news of the forthcoming visit by Prime Minister Albanese and had great hopes for positive outcomes.
Decoupling in the knowledge production sphere threatens Australias future
An intimate and complex understanding of China is now one of the most important prerequisites for understanding and furthering our national interests. For the two nations of China and Australia, to allow tensions and misunderstandings to provoke a decoupling in the knowledge production sphere whether it be in the sciences, the social sciences or the humanities would be extremely unwise, from the point of view of securing Australias future.
An updated repost from August 28, 2023.
The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.
