A new survey shows there is no material difference between the major parties’ China policies. Style and tone might be what matter, whoever wins the election.
Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Australia’s usual approach to big international negotiations is to hold out, before reluctantly making “concessions”. It’s the wrong approach for trade, and the wrong approach for climate change.
With ideological issues such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, lecturers told of how a vocal minority of international Chinese students are attempting to police teaching materials and class discussions.
Australia has suggested a UNESCO recommendation to list the Great Barrier Reef as ‘in danger’ was motivated by politics. This is hardly the first such accusation levied at the organisation.
China’s aggressive stands and the sharp deterioration of the bilateral relationship are flowing through strongly to produce record negativity by Australians towards our biggest trading partner.
The likelihood of open conflict is low, given the risks to China and the US. With the Biden administration treading carefully over Taiwan, why is there so much loose talk of war in Canberra?
The move is designed to demonstrate to the Australian public, the Chinese leadership, and Australia’s allies that Canberra is holding firm in its ‘push back’ against Beijing.
There’s a sizeable gap between Western perceptions of the role of journalists in democratic societies and China’s view that media should serve the interests of the state.
Workplace culture, management systems and recruitment processes are holding Chinese-Australians back from making meaningful contributions to China policy.
With scant details of the reasons for the news anchor’s arrest, the future looks grim for Cheng Lei with Beijing signalling its intent for a full-scale criminal investigation.
As China’s influence and economic strength grows, it is unlikely to give middle powers like Australia more latitude to manage their relations with both Beijing and Washington.
China’s attacks on Australia may seem over the top, but they are meant to achieve specific goals — playing to a nationalist domestic audience and making an example of Australia to the world.
Blinken’s nomination will put pressure on Australia to do more on climate change, but offer hopes of reconciliation in its fractious relationship with China.
Covering China has become an increasingly challenging task, but now foreign journalists like Australians Bill Birtles and Mike Smith are being expelled from the country at an alarming rate.