Dear Global Impact Readers,
Leaders around the world have had to update their contact lists a few times in recent weeks after a series of elections in South Korea, the Philippines and Australia.
The latest sees Anthony Albanese listed under prime minister for Australia after leading his Labor Party to victory over the incumbent Liberal-National coalition led by Scott Morrison.
In this issue, Su-Lin Tan, who covered Australia’s election for the SCMP, looks ahead to what an Albanese administration might mean for relations with China that deteriorated dramatically under Morrison’s watch.
Andrew Mullen
Deputy Editor, Political EconomyChina congratulated new Australia PM Albanese twice, but what does it mean for strained Beijing-Canberra ties?
It would not be a stretch to speculate that there might have been some quiet sighs of relief in Beijing after the Morrison government was turfed out in the Australian federal election last Saturday.
After all, the two governments have not seen eye to eye in the past two and a half years.
While new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heading to meet allies in Tokyo at the Quad summit, Beijing extended congratulations to Australia not once but twice.
The first was a public acknowledgement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a daily press conference, while the second was a direct message from Premier Li Keqiang to Albanese.
These were significant as neither governments have had ministerial contact since their relationship crumbled at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Canberra’s megaphone diplomacy of pushing for an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus likely ruffled feathers among the increasingly assertive elites in Beijing.
A shift in power in any setting can turn things around or even settle old scores, sometimes without trying. So far, former diplomats, elder statesmen and political analysts expect the re-levelling of political energies in Canberra to set the scene for some kind of “soft reset” with Beijing, but they do not foresee a complete reconciliation.
Those fond memories are gone, they say.
So far, China has, as expected, taken an opportunity to extend an olive branch.
In a locally published opinion piece, the new Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, also took the opportunity to remind the two mega trade partners that this year marks 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
“Looking back at the relationship over the past half-century, despite many twists and turns, we have always managed to follow the general trend of history and seek common ground while resolving differences,” he said.
Indeed, those who knew China during a bygone time when relations were flourishing - particularly after the former Labor prime minister, Gough Whitlam, made history by being the first Australian PM to visit China - hoped the anniversary would rekindle relations.
At least for now, many say the new Australian government’s execution of its foreign policy vis-à-vis China will be less provocative, but as long as it remains aligned with Washington’s containment of China, not much will change between Canberra and Beijing.
Indeed, all throughout the election campaign, Albanese and his team had stuck to the rhetoric that China had changed and become more aggressive over the years. It also stayed close on the heels of the Morrison government’s “tough on China” policy.
In other words, Canberra’s tough stance will not change, save for more courteous language - and perhaps less talk of war - and better diplomacy by Albanese’s team.
The Albanese government’s reciprocity to Beijing’s olive branch was a bit more lukewarm though, with Albanese appearing matter of fact about Li’s note, saying it was one of the many congratulatory notes he had received.
He said that he would respond to Li in good time, but he also got down to business and asked China to drop restrictions that it imposed on Australian exports in 2020 following their fallout, saying there was no justification for them.
“We will determine Australia’s future direction. It’s China that’s changed, not Australia,” he said.
In the meantime, other regions, such as Southeast Asia and the Pacific, will likely get fresh attention from Canberra.
With the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China, new foreign minister Penny Wong lost no time after finishing up in Tokyo on Wednesday, and made a beeline for Fiji.
Australia will start reparation work with the Pacific nations, focusing on their needs on climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security.
Making up with France could also be on the cards, after Albanese raised his concerns about Canberra’s precarious relationship with Paris during his campaign.
The last government angered the French by calling off a submarine contract in favour of another within the Aukus security tie up with the US and the UK.
The new government has also pledged better relations with Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and has quickly created an Office of Southeast Asia within the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, similar to the department’s existing Office of the Pacific.
And just as Albanese was firm on his stance with China in Tokyo, he reaffirmed his commitment towards Southeast Asia - a sign that he and his government will likely put the region back at the centre of Australia’s foreign policy.
- South China Morning Post, SCMP -
Dear Global Impact Readers,
Leaders around the world have had to update their contact lists a few times in recent weeks after a series of elections in South Korea, the Philippines and Australia.
The latest sees Anthony Albanese listed under prime minister for Australia after leading his Labor Party to victory over the incumbent Liberal-National coalition led by Scott Morrison.
In this issue, Su-Lin Tan, who covered Australia’s election for the SCMP, looks ahead to what an Albanese administration might mean for relations with China that deteriorated dramatically under Morrison’s watch.
Andrew Mullen
Deputy Editor, Political EconomyChina congratulated new Australia PM Albanese twice, but what does it mean for strained Beijing-Canberra ties?
It would not be a stretch to speculate that there might have been some quiet sighs of relief in Beijing after the Morrison government was turfed out in the Australian federal election last Saturday.
After all, the two governments have not seen eye to eye in the past two and a half years.
While new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heading to meet allies in Tokyo at the Quad summit, Beijing extended congratulations to Australia not once but twice.
The first was a public acknowledgement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a daily press conference, while the second was a direct message from Premier Li Keqiang to Albanese.
These were significant as neither governments have had ministerial contact since their relationship crumbled at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Canberra’s megaphone diplomacy of pushing for an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus likely ruffled feathers among the increasingly assertive elites in Beijing.
A shift in power in any setting can turn things around or even settle old scores, sometimes without trying. So far, former diplomats, elder statesmen and political analysts expect the re-levelling of political energies in Canberra to set the scene for some kind of “soft reset” with Beijing, but they do not foresee a complete reconciliation.
Those fond memories are gone, they say.
So far, China has, as expected, taken an opportunity to extend an olive branch.
In a locally published opinion piece, the new Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, also took the opportunity to remind the two mega trade partners that this year marks 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
“Looking back at the relationship over the past half-century, despite many twists and turns, we have always managed to follow the general trend of history and seek common ground while resolving differences,” he said.
Indeed, those who knew China during a bygone time when relations were flourishing - particularly after the former Labor prime minister, Gough Whitlam, made history by being the first Australian PM to visit China - hoped the anniversary would rekindle relations.
At least for now, many say the new Australian government’s execution of its foreign policy vis-à-vis China will be less provocative, but as long as it remains aligned with Washington’s containment of China, not much will change between Canberra and Beijing.
Indeed, all throughout the election campaign, Albanese and his team had stuck to the rhetoric that China had changed and become more aggressive over the years. It also stayed close on the heels of the Morrison government’s “tough on China” policy.
In other words, Canberra’s tough stance will not change, save for more courteous language - and perhaps less talk of war - and better diplomacy by Albanese’s team.
The Albanese government’s reciprocity to Beijing’s olive branch was a bit more lukewarm though, with Albanese appearing matter of fact about Li’s note, saying it was one of the many congratulatory notes he had received.
He said that he would respond to Li in good time, but he also got down to business and asked China to drop restrictions that it imposed on Australian exports in 2020 following their fallout, saying there was no justification for them.
“We will determine Australia’s future direction. It’s China that’s changed, not Australia,” he said.
In the meantime, other regions, such as Southeast Asia and the Pacific, will likely get fresh attention from Canberra.
With the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China, new foreign minister Penny Wong lost no time after finishing up in Tokyo on Wednesday, and made a beeline for Fiji.
Australia will start reparation work with the Pacific nations, focusing on their needs on climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security.
Making up with France could also be on the cards, after Albanese raised his concerns about Canberra’s precarious relationship with Paris during his campaign.
The last government angered the French by calling off a submarine contract in favour of another within the Aukus security tie up with the US and the UK.
The new government has also pledged better relations with Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and has quickly created an Office of Southeast Asia within the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, similar to the department’s existing Office of the Pacific.
And just as Albanese was firm on his stance with China in Tokyo, he reaffirmed his commitment towards Southeast Asia - a sign that he and his government will likely put the region back at the centre of Australia’s foreign policy.
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28 May 2022 |
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Welcome to our 1,657 newly joined SCMP Global Impact readers who signed up in the past week.
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Dear Global Impact Readers,
Leaders around the world have had to update their contact lists a few times in recent weeks after a series of elections in South Korea, the Philippines and Australia.
The latest sees Anthony Albanese listed under prime minister for Australia after leading his Labor Party to victory over the incumbent Liberal-National coalition led by Scott Morrison.
In this issue, Su-Lin Tan, who covered Australia’s election for the SCMP, looks ahead to what an Albanese administration might mean for relations with China that deteriorated dramatically under Morrison’s watch.
Andrew Mullen
Deputy Editor, Political Economy
China congratulated new Australia PM Albanese twice, but what does it mean for strained Beijing-Canberra ties?
It would not be a stretch to speculate that there might have been some quiet sighs of relief in Beijing after the Morrison government was turfed out in the Australian federal election last Saturday.
After all, the two governments have not seen eye to eye in the past two and a half years.
While new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heading to meet allies in Tokyo at the Quad summit, Beijing extended congratulations to Australia not once but twice.
The first was a public acknowledgement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a daily press conference, while the second was a direct message from Premier Li Keqiang to Albanese.
These were significant as neither governments have had ministerial contact since their relationship crumbled at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Canberra’s megaphone diplomacy of pushing for an independent investigation into the origin of the coronavirus likely ruffled feathers among the increasingly assertive elites in Beijing.
A shift in power in any setting can turn things around or even settle old scores, sometimes without trying. So far, former diplomats, elder statesmen and political analysts expect the re-levelling of political energies in Canberra to set the scene for some kind of “soft reset” with Beijing, but they do not foresee a complete reconciliation.
Those fond memories are gone, they say.
So far, China has, as expected, taken an opportunity to extend an olive branch.
In a locally published opinion piece, the new Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, also took the opportunity to remind the two mega trade partners that this year marks 50 years since the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
“Looking back at the relationship over the past half-century, despite many twists and turns, we have always managed to follow the general trend of history and seek common ground while resolving differences,” he said.
Indeed, those who knew China during a bygone time when relations were flourishing - particularly after the former Labor prime minister, Gough Whitlam, made history by being the first Australian PM to visit China - hoped the anniversary would rekindle relations.
At least for now, many say the new Australian government’s execution of its foreign policy vis-à-vis China will be less provocative, but as long as it remains aligned with Washington’s containment of China, not much will change between Canberra and Beijing.
Indeed, all throughout the election campaign, Albanese and his team had stuck to the rhetoric that China had changed and become more aggressive over the years. It also stayed close on the heels of the Morrison government’s “tough on China” policy.
In other words, Canberra’s tough stance will not change, save for more courteous language - and perhaps less talk of war - and better diplomacy by Albanese’s team.
The Albanese government’s reciprocity to Beijing’s olive branch was a bit more lukewarm though, with Albanese appearing matter of fact about Li’s note, saying it was one of the many congratulatory notes he had received.
He said that he would respond to Li in good time, but he also got down to business and asked China to drop restrictions that it imposed on Australian exports in 2020 following their fallout, saying there was no justification for them.
“We will determine Australia’s future direction. It’s China that’s changed, not Australia,” he said.
In the meantime, other regions, such as Southeast Asia and the Pacific, will likely get fresh attention from Canberra.
With the Solomon Islands signing a security pact with China, new foreign minister Penny Wong lost no time after finishing up in Tokyo on Wednesday, and made a beeline for Fiji.
Australia will start reparation work with the Pacific nations, focusing on their needs on climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security.
Making up with France could also be on the cards, after Albanese raised his concerns about Canberra’s precarious relationship with Paris during his campaign.
The last government angered the French by calling off a submarine contract in favour of another within the Aukus security tie up with the US and the UK.
The new government has also pledged better relations with Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and has quickly created an Office of Southeast Asia within the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, similar to the department’s existing Office of the Pacific.
And just as Albanese was firm on his stance with China in Tokyo, he reaffirmed his commitment towards Southeast Asia - a sign that he and his government will likely put the region back at the centre of Australia’s foreign policy.
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Australia’s new PM Albanese may mean a new chapter with Indonesia, Malaysia
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Anthony Albanese met international students and learned about marginalised people at university in 1980s, where he was active in Labor politics; such experiences could help inform his foreign policy | | | • | He’s talked about Indonesia as ‘future superpower’ but different approaches to US-China competition in region may test relationship with Jakarta
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Anthony Albanese’s victory in Australia’s federal election may lead to stronger links with Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, analysts say, although they cautioned that there were major challenges facing the new prime minister. He remarked not long before the election that it was important to grow ties with Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, which he dubbed a “future superpower”. Read more
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‘Fear of looking weak on China’, election won’t help Australia’s exporters
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China has used a variety of trade and bureaucratic tools to bar the likes of Australian barley, beef, wine, lobsters and coal from entering its market since 2020 | | | • | Diplomatic relations between the two countries have remained on the rocks since, with Saturday’s election result unlikely to change Canberra’s approach to China
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More than two years on, Australian producers are still feeling the lingering impact of China’s one-sided trade war. But regardless of whom they vote for when they join other Australians at the polls on Saturday, the status quo appears unlikely to change, no matter which party wins. Read more
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‘5 years of Chinese tariffs is painful’: Australian producer eyes solution
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Treasury Wine Estates is looking to avoid China’s punitive trade tariffs by speeding up production of a made-in-China version of the popular Penfolds brand | | | • | Under new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australia wants China’s trade tariffs lifted ‘as soon as possible’, as it ‘would be a great start’ in mending their frayed ties
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One of Australia’s oldest wine brands is accelerating production of its made-in-China offerings, with an eye on using domestic production to circumvent import tariffs that have had an outsized impact on wine exports from down under for nearly two years, according to an industry insider. The shift comes even as observers expect the incoming Labor government to be less provocative towards Beijing while calling for China to drop its punitive tariffs that have roiled relations and hurt various Australian industries. Read more
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Wang points to Solomons as ‘model for mutual trust’ at start of tour
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Wang Yi is on a 10-day trip aimed at expanding Beijing’s military, economic and diplomatic ties in the region | | | • | He sought to play down fears of a military presence in the nation under new security pact, according to Xinhua
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China’s ties with Solomon Islands should become “a model for mutual trust” and cooperation for its relations with the South Pacific, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Honiara at the start of a regional tour on Thursday. The 10-day, eight-nation trip is aimed at expanding China’s long-term military, economic and diplomatic ties and is seen as an effort to counter Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Read more
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Australia’s Bangladesh focus cheered in trade pivot away from China
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Canberra’s bid to bolster ties with Dhaka comes as the Quad security alliance beefs up efforts to counter China’s Indo-Pacific influence | | | • | The government’s LNG supply chain focus signals it realises it can help businesses make markets like Bangladesh more accessible, says former diplomat
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Mention Bangladesh and for most Australians, what comes to mind is cricket, where both are fierce rivals in international competition. But Canberra is seeking to change that, with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne announcing earlier this month plans to deepen political and economic ties with the South Asian country. Payne’s announcement, made on the sidelines of the four-nation Quad security alliance meeting in Melbourne, said Canberra would spend A$36.5 million (US$26.2 million) over the next five years to bolster relations with Dhaka. Read more
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Is China a key motivation behind Australia’s A$804m Antarctica funding boost?
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Australia’s China critics believe so, but analysts say Canberra, which claims 42 per cent of the frozen continent, is making a long overdue investment in scientific research and environmental protection | | | • | Chinese analysts have also framed Australia’s move in the context of the ongoing geopolitical competition and tense bilateral ties
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In the past week, since Australia announced an A$804 million (US$578 million) to boost scientific research on Antarctica, its efforts have been framed as part of the ongoing competition for influence with China that stretches from the Indo-Pacific to the frozen continent. This has been fuelled by comments Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made when he said the funding would be for more drone fleets, helicopters and other vehicles so that scientists could uncover parts of the unexplored East Antarctica. Read more
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China-Australia tensions, racism fuelling Asian ‘reluctance’ to join politics
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Australia has less political diversity than Canada, New Zealand and the UK, according to a monitor, while another group says this year’s federal election has fewer candidates of Asian descent than in 2019 | | | • | Asian-Australian candidates explain why they are running, the xenophobia they face amid China-Australia tensions, and the issues their communities care about
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As Australia draws closer to its federal election on May 21, in an era it had once coined the “Asian Century”, one thing continues to stand out: the lack of Asian-Australians in its parliament. According to an election watch brief released last year by the University of Melbourne, only three candidates with Asian ancestry were elected to the 151-seat lower House of Representatives in the 2019 election, when the current government was formed. Asian-Australians make up between 14 to 16 per cent of the population, but only 2 per cent of parliament. Read more
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To keep track of the latest global news developments, follow daily coverage on our website or focus on stories about Australia.
In our next issue, our Business desk will look at the coronavirus situation in Shanghai as China’s commercial and financial hub looks to lift its lockdown.
We welcome your feedback. Email me at globalimpact@scmp.com. Plus, be sure to check out our Asia feed for the latest news and analysis and follow us on @SCMPAsia.
All the best,
Su-Lin Tan
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Su-Lin Tan
Correspondent, Asia
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Hello, thank you for reading Global Impact.
Our mission is to lead the global conversation about China and this flagship newsletter is one way our Editorial team contributes toward this goal.
Serving readers and helping them get closer to stories that matter are paramount to us because keeping abreast of today’s news cycle has never been more important.
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