A formal resolution off Australia's complaint about Chinese barley tariffs will likely take years. But at least it starts a structured process for dialogue.
The first batch of returning international students are due to fly in this weekend, but Australia has a lot of work to do to maintain its pre-COVID share of the global education market.
After a disastrous few years under the Trump administration, Australia must find a way to confront China on bullying behaviour while seeking its co-operation on climate change and trade.
A booth promoting Australian meat at the third China International Import Expo in Shanghai, November 7 2020.
Alex Plavevski/EPA
Australian universities face a huge revenue hit from falling international student numbers due to COVID-19 and tensions with China. Some institutions should consider merging rather than downsizing.
Unlike the US, Australia hasn't yet been hit by a large-scale disinformation campaign focussed on meddling with elections. But this is a 'realistic prospect' moving forward.
Scott Morrison has made a diplomatic blunder in leading the push for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus. There is much at stake, and he now needs to find a diplomatic way out.
Despite veiled threats from the Chinese government, and the desire in some parts of the Australian community for a split, China and Australia need each other.
Tianjin Garden at the northern end of Spring Street is a symbol of Melbourne’s 40-year friendship with its sister city, Tianjin.
Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock
Australian city councils appreciate the social and educational benefits of having Chinese sister cities. Gaining new markets and attracting tourists and investment have proved more challenging.
Rudd said Australia must once again become the international champion of the South Pacific nations: ‘The so-called 'Pacific step-up’ is hollow.‘
Lukas Coch/AAP
Launching journalist Peter Hartcher's Quarterly Essay, Red Flag: Waking up to China's challenge, Rudd said “we have become too China-dependent. We need to diversify further".
The alleged attempted penetration of federal parliament is significant, given (if true) its deep implication for Australia’s democratic system.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Amid debate about China's refusal of visa to two federal MPs, former PM Paul Keating denounced the media for 'failing to present a balanced picture of the rise, legitimacy and importance of China'.
Morrison told reporters he’d made the point ‘which was well received, that Australia is an independent, sovereign nation’.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Morrison stressed “that we will never feel corralled into any sort of binary assessment of these relationships” - assessments that said “pro-United States or pro-China”.
‘It is inevitable that Australia will make more decisions that China doesn’t like,’ said Penny Wong.
Joel Carrett/AAP
Focusing on China policy in a Monday address - released ahead of delivery - Penny Wong says Australia needs to 'define the boundaries' of its engagement with China as the relationship is in a new phase.
In his recent US trip, Prime Minister Scott Morrison align Australia firmly with the US’s vision of China, while Labor has been more circumspect.
AAP/The Conversation
In its mirroring of the US position, the government is indicating it believes China needs to have its wings clipped, while Labor has taken a different view.