Will Albanese bring changes to Australia-China relations?

Australians just had their federal election last Saturday. It is almost certain that we will have a transition in government. The leader of the Australian Labour Party, Mr. Anthony Albanese will likely to become our 31st Prime Minister. After the elections, people are already looking at potential reform of the damaging Australia-China relations.

Foreign policy has been a debate between the Liberal and Labour Parties throughout the election campaign. The China policy, in particular, has been the major topic regarding Australia’s external affairs. This is because, over the past four to five years, Australia has had a structural clash of interests and values with a more powerful, nationalist and ideological China. Facing China’s coercion, Australian trade is experiencing some of the toughest challenges during the pandemic. The bilateral relationship is, indeed, at the lowest point.

Therefore, some people, including politicians in Beijing, is optimistic that Australia-China relations may improve under the Albanese government.

More noise than action

During the election campaign, Albanese and the Labour Party has been criticising the Morrison government for using the China’s threat as a political campaign and has contextualised a ‘cold war analogies’ with China. In fact, since April, when the election was called, liberal party elites have been raising the China security issues to the public, including the Solomon Islands security deal and the China’s spy ships near Western Australia recently, warning that Australia must react and respond to China’s threat. As such, the Labour’s criticism was valid.

However, apart from making criticism, the Labours have made little suggestions in improving the relationship between Canberra and Beijing. In fact, they seem to have a similar approach with the Liberals. During Albanese’s interview in January, he said, no matter who comes to power, ‘it will be difficult because the posture of China has changed. It is China that has changed, not Australia that has changed’. This statement would make us think of Morrison’s approach to China — blaming Beijing as the initiator.

Say no to racism

In many occasions, labours avoid making any stands in Australian-China relations. Instead, they turn the focus into how the depressing foreign affairs has increase racism within Australian multicultural society.

This is a clever strategy, and has proven to be effective. At first, racial issues have become worse in the last three years. Fortunately, as a Chinese, I did not experience it in person; but it was clear that Australian media has been raising human rights issues and authoritarianism in China, which results some kind of negative perception to the Australian-Chinese community.

Second, most Australians have little concerns about foreign policy. They care more about domestic politics. And indeed, many people have seen how racism has been harming diversity in Australian society. During COVID, migrants, such as Chinese and Indians in Australia, have been having difficult times. In other words, the winning of the Labour Party can be seen as the call of ending racism from the migrant populations.

The ‘how’ question

Nonetheless, the Labours have not solved the rooted problems — fixing the challenging relationship between Australia and China. As an opposition, it claims that a more controlled messaging on China will help lowering the temperature of the bilateral relationship. This approach, again, is speaking to the migrant populations. It is, however, is vague.

We must admit that there is still an ideological gap between Australia and China. Many China-favoured politicians and analysts would tend to avoid talking about issues, including rules-based order in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait security, China’s domestic issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. They, indeed, are still challenges that hinder improvement of Australia-China relations.

Good thing is that, Beijing is more likely opened for a positive dialogue with the Albanese government than Morrison’s. A new transition in government would a good time for Australia to rethink its complicated relationship with the PRC. Still, the Albanese government has a lot to do after winning the election. This will never be easy, and Australia-China relations remains unlikely to change substantially shortly.

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