 | |
 Australia |  China |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Australian Embassy, Beijing | Chinese Embassy, Canberra |
| Envoy | |
| AmbassadorGraham Fletcher | AmbassadorXiao Qian |
Consular relations between theQing dynasty andAustralia were first established in 1909, and diplomatic relations with theRepublic of China (ROC) were established in 1941. Australia continued to recognise the ROC government after it lost theChinese Civil War andretreated to Taiwan in 1949, but switched recognition to thePeople's Republic of China (PRC) on 21 December 1972.Chinese Australians have been a significant minority group in the country since the Qing dynasty.
The relationship between China and Australia has grown considerably over the years. They have strong political, economic, and cultural ties, including through multilateral organizations such asAPEC,East Asia Summit and theG20. In 2023, Australia expressed its tentative support for China's application for membership of theCPTPP.[1] China is Australia'slargest two-way trading partner, and theChina-Australia Free Trade Agreement has been in effect since 2015. NumerousAustralian companies operate in China and Chinese firms have invested inAustralian mining companies. Australia is one of the most popular destinations foroverseas higher education and tourism among Chinese people.Australia's Chinese community is also one of the largest in the world, and per capita it is the largest outsideAsia, andMandarin Chinese is the second-most spoken language in Australia.[2]
The number of Chinese people in Australia rose significantly in theVictorian gold rush era,[3] and by 1861, was around 40,000, constituting 3.3% of the total population.[4]
Liang Lan-hsun was the first Chinese Consul-General to Australia, sent by the government ofQing Empire in 1909 to Melbourne, then the seat of the Australian government.[5] While the Chinese community had agitated for a Qing consulate in Australia for many years, there was reluctance from the BritishForeign Office to approve such a move. After federation, the Chinese community's desire for an official voice in Australia increased due to the push for theWhite Australia Policy andanti-Chinese sentiment following the enactment of theImmigration Restriction Act 1901.[4]
Mei Quong Tart, had for years been favored as the first Chinese Consul-General by the Chinese community, the European consular corps, as well as the Australian Prime Minister, but he died in 1903 before the Consulate-General had been set up. Instead, the first Consul-General was Liang Lan-hsun, an imperial official and experienced diplomat. However, the consul's attention was focused on trade relations, not discrimination against Chinese migrants.[6]
However the last Qing Consul Tong Ying Tung did become involved in assisting Chinese in Australia. Consul-General Tong Ying Tung in an interesting letter to the Minister of the Department of External Affairs declared that the “officers of your Department are operating most harshly against Chinese residents in the Northern Territory”. Consul Tong referred to a number of instances of discrimination and hardship, and pointed out that no distinction was being made between those who were “Foreign Subjects”, “Naturalised British Subjects” or “Australian born British Subjects” whether descended of foreign or naturalised parents. Finally the Qing representative in Australia felt that it was “almost a work of supererogation” when he needed to point out that naturalised British subjects gave up their previous nationality in expectation of having “all the rights and privileges of British Subjects.” Regarding those that were subjects of the Emperor, the Consul-General argued that, with Chinese numbers down and the Commonwealth in full control of its immigration, to treat these small numbers of “innocent persons” so harshly would seem “unnecessary and deplorable”. Not to mention the damage to the fishing industry he had already pointed out. [NAA: A1, 1911/8882, Consul-General for China, Tong Ying Tung to Minister for External Affairs, 22 March 1911.]
On 1 January 1912, the Republic of China replaced the Qing empire. The Consulate-General immediately set about mobilizing the Chinese community in support of the new government, collecting funds and sending delegates to elect overseas Chinese deputies in the new Chinese parliament. Different political factions in China found support in Australia: while the Consulate-General sponsored groups supportingYuan Shikai's Beijing government, the opposing Chinese Nationalist League (later a branch of theKuomintang) was formed in Sydney in 1916. A relaxation in Australia's racial exclusion laws led to broader people-to-people interactions. By 1924, 200 Chinese students were arriving in Australia to study in that year alone. An Australian trade commissioner was briefly stationed in China in 1921–22.
In the mid-1920s, conflict between China and Britain surrounding theCanton–Hong Kong strike created tensions between China and Australia (as a dominion of Britain) as well. Following theNorthern Expedition in China, greater political unity within China bolstered the Chinese Consulate-General's confidence in criticizing Australian laws that discriminated against the Chinese; they were supported domestically by a resolution at the ruling Kuomintang's Third National Conference in 1929. Australian rules against Chinese residents and visitors were relaxed in response, including making it easier for Chinese nationals to visit or study in Australia.[6]
The 1930s saw an upsurge in bilateral relations. The Consulate-General was reorganised and moved to Sydney, with sub-consulates opened in other key cities. Various Chinese officials visited Australia. In 1931–2,Lin Sen, Chairman of the National Government of China and figurehead head of state, visited Sydney and Melbourne.[6] This was the first visit to Australia by a Chinese head of state, and Lin used the opportunity to press for greater relaxation of Australia's restrictions on Chinese migration. As a mark of respect, he was given a seat on the floor of the House of Representatives. In 1934,John Latham, the deputy leader of the government, led theAustralian Eastern Mission which visited China.[4] In 1935,Vivian Gordon Bowden was appointed as Australia's trade commissioner based in Shanghai.[7] The establishment of trade commissions in several Asian countries was an initiative of theLyons government first announced in 1933, where previously Australian interests had been represented by the United Kingdom.[8]
In 1941, after Australia established greater independence in foreign affairs, Australia established diplomatic relations with theRepublic of China.Frederic Eggleston, who previously headed theCommonwealth Grants Commission, was appointed the first minister to China inChongqing, China's war-time capital, whileHsu Mo, deputy foreign minister, was appointed the first minister to Australia.[4] In 1948, the two countries upgraded their mutual representations to ambassadors.
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China ("PRC") in 1949 and the retreat of the Republic of China ("ROC") government toTaiwan, Australia did not recognise the PRC. The United Kingdom proposed in 1949 that Britain, Australia and New Zealand should simultaneously recognise the new government. However, the Australian and New Zealand governments were concerned about electoral repercussions at a time when Communism was becoming a more topical issue, and did not do so immediately. AlthoughBen Chifley'sLabor government preferred to be realistic about the new Chinese government and would have supported its admission to the United Nations,[9] it lost the election. The British government went ahead with the recognition of the PRC alone in 1950, but the United States withheld recognition.[citation needed]
TheKorean War further solidified the United States' position of supporting the Republic of China regime in Taiwan instead of the PRC. Wavering between its two traditional allies, Australia chose to follow the lead of the United States, rather than Britain, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, France, Canada, and Italy (all of which switched recognition to the PRC before 1970).[citation needed]
However, from 1950, Australia refused to accept ambassadors from the ROC (the mission was allowed to remain but, until 1959, was headed by achargé d'affaires).[10] Likewise, until 1966 Australia did not send an ambassador to Taiwan. From as early as 1954, the Australian government's Department of External Affairs was recommending the recognition of the PRC, but this advice was not politically accepted. During the Cold War, Australia's strategic alignment swung further towards the United States. While theLabor Party's official policy from 1955 was that Australia should follow the examples of Britain and France in recognizing the PRC, on the basis that the ROC was unlikely to recover the mainland,[11] theLiberal Party-led Coalition played up the perceived threat of a Communist China for electoral advantage, including the support of the anti-CommunistDemocratic Labor Party. As part of this political strategy, Australian Prime MinisterHarold Holt explicitly recognised the continuing legitimacy of the ROC government in Taiwan in 1966, by sending an ambassador to Taipei for the first time.[9]
The government ofWilliam McMahon sought to improve non-official relations with China, in areas such as trade and culture, but China was not receptive to such exchanges without diplomatic recognition.
As opposition leader,Gough Whitlam visited China in 1971 (beforeHenry Kissinger's historic visit on behalf of the United States), and in December 1972, after Whitlam's victory in that year's federal election, Australia established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, and Australia ceased to recognise the Republic of China government ofChiang Kai-shek in Taiwan.[12][13] Although Whitlam's decision was informed by warming relations between China and the West generally, especially the United States, Australian diplomatic relations with the People's Republic predated that of the United States by seven years. The establishment of relations with "Red China" roused great excitement in Australia.[14]Stephen Fitzgerald became the first Australian ambassador to the People's Republic of China, andWang Guoquan was the first PRC ambassador to Australia.
Since theChinese economic reforms initiated by the lateDeng Xiaoping, China has benefited from significant investment in China by Australian companies (for example, future prime ministerMalcolm Turnbull had set up the first China-foreign joint venture mining company in China in 1994), while Australia has benefited from the Chinese appetite for natural resources to modernise its economy, infrastructure and meet its growing energy demands.[15] In 2009, it was estimated the trade and investment with China brought benefits of close to $4000 per Australian household; in 2011, this was estimated to be A$10,500 per household per year.[15]
China and Australia were the final two bidders for the2000 Summer Olympics. Australia subsequently won and Sydney hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics. Eight years later, China hosted theBeijing Summer Olympics in 2008.
Australia is one of the few countries in the world that was not in recession during the2008 financial crisis. Its continued economic growth due to that period is partly attributed to large demand and long term strong fundamentals from China.[citation needed]
As China's influence raises, the Chinese government has been trying to control and monitor the ethnic Chinese living and studying in Australia, and to influence Australian politicians via political donors, which causes serious concern to Australia's security agency,Australian Security Intelligence Organization.[16]
Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate in 2018 due to growing concerns of Chinese political influence in various sectors of Australian society includingthe Government, universities andmedia as well as China's stance on theSouth China Sea dispute.[17][18] TheCOVID-19 pandemic exacerbated issues and tensions between the countries, especially after Australia called for an international, independentinquiry into the origins of the disease.[19][20] The subsequent changes that China made to itstrade policies have been interpreted as political retaliation and economic coercion against Australia.[21][22][23][24]
In September 2021, Australia announced a new trilateral military security partnership with the US and UK for theIndo-Pacific region namedAUKUS under which Australia would acquire conventionally-armednuclear-powered submarines.[25] Although China was not specifically mentioned in the news announcements, critics interpreted it as a major blow to the Australian-Chinese relationship, by firmly allying Australia with the US in military terms in the region.[26] China was critical of the formation of AUKUS.[27]
Australia's ties to China include its relations withHong Kong which date back to when both were under British rule. Although Hong Kong, as a special administrative area of China, cannot conduct its own foreign affairs, consular and economic representations exist. Australia maintains a consulate in Hong Kong, while Hong Kong maintains theHong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Australia.
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Australia has been a haven for Chinese migrants for centuries who have, in the modern day, established themselves as a significant minority group in Australian society. There are now large numbers of Australian-born Chinese and Chinese-born migrants/Australian Citizens in the cities ofMelbourne,Sydney andBrisbane with small Chinese communities in regional centers, particularly inVictoria, andNew South Wales. There are also Chinatowns in every Australian capital city, includingDarwin and large, publicChinese New Year Celebrations in Melbourne and Sydney.China has established manyConfucius Institutes with Australia universities in major capital cities in Australia to foster better cultural ties.[28] The Australian Confucius Institutes have becomesubject to controversy.
Australians in China also had influence in the establishments of Australian rules football teams.
Australians have gone to China to study since the 19th century. William Mayers studied in China from 1859, and was involved in negotiations to bring the first railway and steam engine to China.[4] In 2011, China was overall the most popular destination for Australian students studying overseas. It was the most popular destination for Australian students undertaking short-term studies overseas, the seventh most popular destination for long-term studies, and also the seventh most popular destination for practical placements.[29] In 2014, there were 4,700 Australians studying in Chinese universities, and in 2015 the Australian government's New Colombo Plan was expected to send 525 tertiary students to study in China.[30]
There is also a long tradition of Chinese students going to Australia to study. The numbers were small initially: a total of only 30 students entered Australia to study between 1912 and 1920. In 1924, about 300 Chinese students entered Australia to study. They were mostly children of residents.[6]
Australia began accepting Chinese students for tertiary education in 1986 in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS). Several thousands Chinese were studying in Australia in 1987.[31] In the aftermath ofTiananmen Square protests of 1989, the Australian government granted protection for about 20,000 Chinese students in Australia.[14][31] Since then, Australia has become one of the biggest markets for Chinese students for tertiary education.[32] In early 2011, there were over 126,000 Chinese students in Australia[32] and they made up 26 per cent of the total foreign students.[32][33] As of September 2011, there were 150,000 Chinese students studying at Australia tertiary institutions.[34] The Australian education export market was worth 2009/10 A$19 billion.[35] The well-developed nature of Australia-China education relations has spawned a thriving sphere of bilateral youth engagement, withnon-government organizations such as theAustralia China Youth Association, Australia-China Youth Dialogue, Australia-China Young Professionals Initiative, and Engaging China Project receiving high-level government and university support to connect thousands of young Australians and Chinese to academic, cultural, and professional exchanges.[36][37][38][39]
The Australia China Alumni Association facilitates continued cooperation for graduates of Australian universities who become active in business in China.[40]
Although Chinese traders were reportedly present in Australia from the 1750s, bilateral trade was small scale until the 20th century. Australia's trade relations were heavily geared towards theBritish Empire, and at Federation in 1901, trade with China accounted for 0.3% of Australian merchandise trade flow. At that time, Australia mainly imported tea and rice from China, as well as certain luxuries such as silk. Chinese imports from Australia were focused on minerals (silver, gold, copper and pig lead), but also included grains.[4]
During the early 20th century, agricultural produce began to make up a larger share of Australian exports to China, including a growing demand for Australian butter and wheat. By 1917–18, Australia was exporting 431,287 kilograms (950,825 lb) of butter to China. Meanwhile, Australian demand for silk and other textiles increased during the early 20th century.
World War II disrupted trade between Australia and China. In the post-war decades, wool became an important Australian commodity imported by China. From the 1960s, however, agricultural shortages in China led to heavy imports of Australian wheat. By the early 1970s, China still accounted for only 1% of Australia's merchandise trade flow.[4]
In July 1972, a Chinese table tennis team visited New Zealand and Australia as part of the Chinese "Ping Pong" diplomacy push. They did not get an official reception; the team came via New Zealand where they were given an official afternoon tea and met the Prime MinisterJack Marshall and Foreign MinisterKeith Holyoake (the chief Table Tennis official Madame Cheng Chi-Hung was actually the head of the American, Western European and Australasian Department in the Chinese Foreign Ministry).[41]
A few years after the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People's Republic of China, China began market-orientated reforms, which led to a significant and increasing expansion of bilateral trade. China is Australia's biggest trading partner mainly due to China's strong demand for iron ore, coal andliquefied natural gas.[42] Exports to China helped Australia escape the worst effects of the2008 financial crisis.[43]
Many major Australian mining companies rely heavily on China and other growing big economies such as India for exports. These companies includeBHP,Fortescue,Rio Tinto andXstrata who have major Australian operations.
China exports mainly clothing, telecommunications equipment and components, computers, toys, prams and sporting equipment.[42]
The bilateral trade between the two countries is worth A$105 billion in 2010/2011.[42] Australia's exports to China totalled A$64.8 billion, while China's export to Australia was worth A$41.1 billion in 2010–2011 period.[42]
| Year | two-way trade |
|---|---|
| 2008 | $73.8 billion |
| 2009 | $85.1 billion |
| 2010 | $105.3 billion |
| 2011 | $121.1 billion[44] |
There are direct flights from a number of cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong SAR and Guangzhou to Brisbane,[45] Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Recently,China Southern Airlines have commenced scheduled commercial flights to Perth from Guangzhou in early November 2011.[46] China Southern has its pilot training facilities in Australia for many years. They are in Jandakot and Merredin which were established in 1993.[46]
There were initial fears of Chinese investment in the resource sector similar to the sentiments on Japanese investments in Australia in the 1980s,[47] but that has somewhat heated up and dissipated depending on the investments which were scrutinised by the Foreign Investment Review Board and politicians.[48][49][50][51]Australia is focused on investments which have a win win situations with participation of local companies participation and jobs growth.[49]
In 2000, the two countries established the Australia-China Bilateral Dialogue for Energy and Resources Cooperation (BDERC).[52]: 64 BDERC is the primary high-level mechanism for energy dialogue between Australia and China, with a particular focus on fossil fuels.[52]: 64
Australia has been a vital source of the high technology needed for China to enforce its claims to vast reaches of the western Pacific, including the base technology for the design of theHoubei class missile boat.[53]
On 8 April 2013, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the deal that the Australian dollar is set to become only the third currency after the US dollar and the Japanese yen to trade directly with the Chinese yuan during a trip to Shanghai.[54]
To encourage Australian entrepreneurship in Greater China, the Australian Chamber of Commerce of Greater China organises every year the Australia-China Business Awards (ACBA) which recognise companies that have worked to deliver Australian products or services to the Greater China region.[55]
TheChina–Australia Free Trade Agreement was signed in 2015.[56]
Australia has raised securityconcerns over Chinese involvement in 5G wireless networks with a risk thatcellularnetwork equipment sourced from Chinese vendors may containbackdoors enablingsurveillance by theChinese government (as part of itsintelligence activity internationally) and Chinese laws, such as theChina Internet Security Law, which compel companies and individuals to assist the state intelligence agency on the collection of information whenever requested.[57]
In February 2018, over fears of rising Chinese influence, the Australian Government announced tougher rules on foreign buyers of agricultural land and electricity infrastructure.[58]
As of 2025, Chinese investment in Australia is primarily in the resources sector and predominantly mining-related.[59]: 15
In March 2020 during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Australia brought in new rules to scrutinise foreign takeovers of Australian companies, after MPs in the Australian Parliament expressed concerns that companies impacted by the pandemic-induced economic slowdown would become vulnerable to buyouts by state-owned enterprises in authoritarian regimes including China.[60] In April 2020,Australian Border Force intercepted faulty masks and otherpersonal protective equipment kits that had been imported from China to help stop the spread of coronavirus.[61][62]
Relations deteriorated further in May 2020 after Australia called for an independent investigation into the initial coronavirus outbreak in China, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggesting that WHO needed tough "weapons inspector" powers to investigate the cause of the outbreak.[19][63] On 12 May 2020, China banned import of beef from four Australian beef processing firms, constituting about 35% of Australia's beef exports to China. A spokesman for China's foreign ministry said that the ban was to "secure the health and safety of Chinese consumers" before adding China's criticism against Australia's pursuit of an investigation into the origins COVID-19, which was first discovered in China. The spokesman,Zhao Lijian, denied that the two issues were connected.[64]
From 19 May 2020, China instituted an 80% tariff onbarley imports from Australia. China stated the tariffs were the culmination of multi-year Chinese investigations intodumping and government subsidies. The Australian government and the industry strongly rejected China's findings. The previous week, China had unfrozen barley imports from the United States. Annual estimates (dated around 2017–2018) state China grows less than two milliontonnes (4.4 billion pounds) of barley per year and imports about nine million tonnes (20 billion pounds) of barley annually. Australia grows about nine million tonnes (20 billion pounds) per year, three times as much as the entire US.[65]
On 25 May 2020, the Chinese government warned Australia to "distance" itself from the US amid growing tensions. Accusing the US of pushing for a "new Cold War", Beijing said that any support Australia shows for the US would deliver "a fatal blow" to the Australian economy. TheGlobal Times said in a related report, "Australia's economic deterrent force is much smaller than the US', so China to some extent will enjoy more room to fight back against Australia with countermeasures if Canberra supports Washington... it means Australia may feel more pain than the US."[66]
On 19 June 2020, the Australian government announced that there had been a spate of cyber-attacks on Australian businesses and government agencies from a "sophisticated state based actor", without naming China directly. However, sources familiar with the Australian government's thinking said there was a high degree of confidence that China was behind the cyber-attacks. China denied that it was involved and said it "firmly opposed all forms of cyber attacks".[67] The average cost of cybercrime to a business in Australia is around $276,000 Australian dollars.[68]
In June 2020, the Chinese government also issued a travel warning to Australia's Chinese diaspora and Chinese students studying in Australia, citing an increase in racial discrimination and violence against Chinese people. In 2019, more than 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Australia, spending $12.4 billion Australian dollars in total. Additionally, fees from Chinese students contribute about $12 billion Australian dollars to the economy each year.[69][70][71]
In November 2020, China imposed "anti-dumping" tariffs ranging from 107.1% to 212.1% on wine imported from Australia.[72] In December 2020, after months of restrictions, China fully blocked coal imports from Australia.[73]
In 2020, Chinese investment in Australia dropped 61% compared to the year prior amidst strained diplomatic relations. TheAustralian National University's Chinese Investment in Australia (CHIIA) Database recorded just over $780m (A$1bn; £550m) in investment, the lowest number in 6 years.[74]
On 21 April 2021 the Federal Foreign MinisterMarise Payne announced that the State of Victoria's memorandum of understanding with China regarding theBelt and Road Initiative would be cancelled.[75][76]
In June 2021, the BBC reported Australia will file a formal complaint with theWorld Trade Organization (WTO) over China imposing tariffs of 218% on its wine.[77]
Despite tense relations between the two countries in 2021, Australian trade with China flourished, largely due to the trade in iron ore and meat.[78]: 88 By August 2021, Australia had achieved a record trade surplus with China.[78]: 88
In August 2023, due to an improvement of relations, China'sMinistry of Commerce announced that it would be lifting its "anti-dumping and anti-subsidy" tariffs on Australian barley.[79] In March 2024, the Ministry of Commerce further announced it would lift the tariffs imposed on Australian wine.[80] In turn, Australia announced it would discontinue its formal complaint at the WTO.[81]
As of 2025, Australian lawyers and bankers involved in foreign acquisitions report that post-2015 changes to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) process, driven by national security concerns, have slowed the approval of Chinese investment applications and deterred further interest. A report byKPMG and theUniversity of Sydney found that Chinese investment in Australia totalled $1.3 billion in 2024, the third-lowest level since 2006, behind only 2021 and 2023.[82]
On 15 July 2025, during a roundtable with business leaders in Beijing, Chinese PremierLi Qiang criticised Australian Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese over Australia's foreign investment framework, specifically expressing concern about theForeign Investment Review Board (FIRB) process. Li argued that Chinese companies were facing unfair treatment under Australia's tightened investment screening regime, which imposes greater scrutiny on bids involving key assets and sensitive sectors. He urged Australia to create a non-discriminatory business environment and to properly address issues related to market access and investment review. His remarks followed long-standing Chinese objections to reforms introduced after the 2015 lease ofPort Darwin to Chinese company Landbridge, which had bypassed FIRB scrutiny and later drew national security backlash. The Australian government insisted its policies are country-agnostic and grounded in national interest.[82]
At the time of theFederation of Australia, the prominent Chinese intellectualLiang Qichao toured Australia, meeting the firstPrime Minister of Australia,Edmund Barton.[83] He wrote extensively during this time, including some poetry, and expressing a desire that his large country might also benefit from a form of federation.[83] However, Barton felt the two nations had very little in common, and felt aware that China's population could easily "swamp" that of Australia; as such relations were limited and only ever intermediated through the United Kingdom.[84]
Relations with China became a political priority duringWorld War II, with Australia sending SirFrederic Eggleston to lead its mission there in 1941.[85]
Whilst economic relations between China and Australia have increased significantly to the benefit of both nations, Australia under theHoward government appeared reluctant to pursue closer political/military ties with China and has maintained a close alliance with the United States, particularly since the presidency ofGeorge W. Bush.[86][87]
China is emerging as a political and economic power in the Asia Pacific region which is traditionally anchored by the United States. Australia is aMiddle power country like many Asian countries which have security arrangements with the United States but growing economic ties with China.[88]
Gough Whitlam's visit to China, in the months before becoming prime minister, is said to be a turning point in relations. In the view of the diplomatStephen FitzGerald, the trip paved the way for diplomatic relations and a resumption of trade, while creating a new level of public support for engagement with Asia.[89]
On 15 June 2007, when Prime MinisterJohn Howard received theDalai Lama,[90] China protested, with official critics.[91] In 2007 Howard stated that Australia's improvement of its foreign relations with China constituted one of his government's "policy successes." Nevertheless, he added, "we've always done it against background of being realistic about the nature of political society in that country. We have no illusions that China remains an authoritarian country."[92]
The election ofKevin Rudd as Prime Minister of Australia was seen as favorable to China-Australian relations, notably since he was the first Australian Prime Minister to speak fluent Mandarin, and that closer engagement with Asia was one of the"Three Pillars" of his foreign policy.
In 2004, Rudd, who at the time was Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, delivered a speech in Beijing entitled "Australia and China: A Strong and Stable Partnership for the 21st Century".[93]
In February 2008, Australia reportedly "chastised Taiwan for its renewed push for independence" and "reiterated its support for a one-China policy".[94] In April, however, Rudd addressed Chinese students atPeking University,[95] and, speaking inMandarin, referred to "significant human rights problems in Tibet".[96][97] Rudd also raised the issue in talks with ChinesePremierWen Jiabao, in a context of "simmering diplomatic tension" according toTV3.[98]
Prime Minister Rudd received lukewarm response from China about hisZhengyou terminology used to describe Australia's relationship with China.[99][100]
In July 2009, following thearrest in China of Australian mining executiveStern Hu, accused of spying, Rudd intervened to "remind our Chinese friends that China [...] has significant economic interests at stake in its relationship with Australia and with its other commercial partners around the world".[101] Later in August 2009, the PRC government protested against the Australian government afterRebiya Kadeer was granted a visa to visit Australia to attend theMelbourne International Film Festival.[102] Along with theRio Tinto espionage case and the failed bid forChinalco to purchase a higher stake inRio Tinto, such events are generally considered as lowest ever points in China-Australian relations for the past few years.[103] China has also effectively banned visits by senior Australian officials, in protest against the events in question.[104]
Despite the souring of relations within 2009, on 19 August 2009, Chinese petroleum companyPetroChina signed an A$50 billion deal withExxonMobil to purchaseliquefied natural gas from the Gorgon field in Western Australia,[105][106] considered the largest contract ever signed between China and Australia, which ensures China a steady supply ofLPG fuel for the next 20 years, and also forms China's largest supply of relatively "clean energy".[107][108][109]
The Gillard/Rudd government maintained strong economic ties with China through agreements to explore clean energy and to make sure Australia remains a longstanding and reliable supplier of energy and natural resources.[110] Australia under Prime MinisterJulia Gillard/Kevin Rudd has stated will continue positive and constructive engagement with China but maintaining security ties with the United States based on shared values.[111]
Following his nomination as Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd visited China's foreign minister,Yang Jiechi, before visiting Japan, and subsequently organised a meeting between Yang and the Australian foreign minister,Stephen Smith, in which Australia unilaterally announced its departure from theQuadrilateral Security Dialogue amidst Chinese displeasure at Australia's participation.[112] Within Australia, this decision was seen as motivated by the uncertainty ofChina-United States relations and by the fact that Australia's principle economic partner, China, was not its principle strategic partner.[113] Rudd may furthermore have feared regional escalations in conflict and attempted to diffuse these via an "Asia-Pacific Union."[112]
Rudd's replacement as Australian prime minister by Julia Gillard in June 2010 was associated with a shift in Australian foreign policy towards a closer relationship to the United States alongside a revival of interest in participation in the Quadrilateral and a distancing from China.[114]The Australian, which has written extensively on the Quadrilateral and on Australian defense issues, argued after Rudd's replacement that "Australia's national interest is best served by continuing to engage and encourage our long-standing ally, the US, to retain its primacy in the region."[114] Despite Gillard's rapprochement with the US and increased US-Australian military cooperation, Rudd's decision to leave the Quadrilateral remained an object of criticism fromTony Abbott and theLiberal Party.[115]
Gillard government's action to station US troops in Australia has been strongly criticised and viewed with suspicion by China as it asserted that the defense pact could undermine regional security.[116] An article in theSydney Morning Herald reported that Gillard declared that, "China has nothing to fear from an American military build-up near Darwin and knows that Australia and the US are long-time allies."[117]
In April 2013, Gillard went to China and met with newChinese leader,CCP General SecretaryXi Jinping and newChinese PremierLi Keqiang with Foreign ministerBob Carr and Trade ministerCraig Emerson to secure closer ties with China and economic relations.[118]
Defense Minister Senator David Johnston expressed his belief that Australia does not need to "choose between the US and China." Speaking on behalf of the coalition government, he further stated "we see that there is a balance between our relationship with China and sustaining our strong alliance with the United States."[119]
On 17 November 2014, Australia and China finalised a deal which saw aFree Trade Agreement established between the two nations.[120] At the time, conservative commentators raised concerns that Australia may lose control over key assets, such as dairy farms, but Prime Minister Abbott gave assurances that no one would be forced into any deals.[121]
Chinese leaderXi Jinping addressed a joint-sitting of the Upper and Lower Houses of Australian Parliament in November 2014, lauding Australia's 'innovation and global influence'.[122]
Australia was amongst the firmest opponents ofChina's territorial claims to the South China Sea. In July 2016, following theruling by an international tribunal which held that China holds "no historical rights" to the South China Sea based on the "nine-dash line" map,[123][124] Australia issued a joint statement with Japan and the United States calling for China to abide by the ruling, as "final and legally binding on both parties."[125]In response, Chinese state-run media called Australia apaper cat.[126] Later in the year, in response to an Australian swimmer's critical comments towards Chinese swimmerSun Yang over a past doping experience, state media labelled Australia "Britain's offshore prison... on the fringes of civilization."[127] Later that year, Japanese, Indian, Australian and American officials met to continue security cooperation ahead of the ASEAN and East Asia Summits in November 2017.[128] The meeting included discussion of China's increased prominence in the South China Sea, and may have signaled U.S. President Trump's interest in reviving a formal Quadrilateral with Australian, Indian, and Japanese cooperation.[129] In public settings, relations appeared to be warm, the main political friction coming from the farming sector, losing patience that China was slow in opening its markets.[130]
In June 2017 after aFour Corners investigation into purported Chinese attempts to influence Australian politicians and exert pressure on international students studying in Australia, Turnbull ordered a major inquiry into espionage and foreign interference laws. It also claimed that despiteAustralian Security Intelligence Organization warning both parties about Chinese interference in democratic processes, significant financial contributions continued to be accepted.[131] A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry derided the investigation as "totally pointless" and suggested that Australian media was "creating obstacles" for further cooperation.[132] Former Defense Secretary Dennis Richardson also claimed that China wasconducting espionage in Australia and that intelligence agencies may be currently involved in stopping foreign interference.[133] In December 2017, opposition MPSam Dastyari resigned after a political scandal where he was accused of contradicting the Australian Labor Party's policy on the South China Sea, as well facing accusations of accepting financial favours from Chinese companies.[134] Then Malcolm Turnbull expressed his criticism with "Australian people stand up" in both Chinese and English.[135] Shortly afterwards, the Coalition government announced plans to ban foreign donations to Australian political parties and activist groups.[136] This was a remarkable turn of events as Australia historically had no restrictions on political donations from outside of the country.[137] When the Turnbull Government ruled againstHuawei being able to provide5G infrastructure, relations cooled even further.[138]
In November 2019, the Australian news networkNine Network aired a report on alleged efforts by China to infiltrate theParliament of Australia by recruiting car dealer Bo "Nick" Zhao to run in a constituency during an election, in what was called the2019 Australian Parliament infiltration plot.[139][140][141] Zhao was later found dead in a Melbourne hotel room with the cause of death undetermined. Prime MinisterScott Morrison said the incident was "deeply disturbing and troubling" and that "Australia is not naive to the threats that it faces" before cautioning "anyone leaping to any conclusions about these matters".[141] Chinese foreign ministry spokesmanGeng Shuang rejected the alleged plot and said that some Australian politicians, institutions and media outlets "reached a state of hysteria and extreme nervousness".[142]
According to Zoya Sheftalovich and Stuart Lau in September 2021:
Nearly 10 years ago, Australia thought it was on the cusp of a beautiful friendship with China: It was opening up its economy to Beijing, wanted to teach Mandarin in schools and invited the Chinese president to address parliament. Now, that's all over. These days, Australia is buying up nuclear-powered submarines to fend off Beijing, barring the country from key markets and bristling at its relentless attempts to coerce Australian politicians and media.[143][144]
According to Sam Roggeveen, an ex-senior strategic analyst at theOffice of National Assessments, during Scott Morrison's prime ministership, there was "three years of near panic about the implications of China’s rise as a military power". Scott Morrison viewed China as a central strategic challenge, highlighting concerns about its growing military presence and regional ambitions. In 2020, He compared tensions in Asia to those of Europe in the 1930s and later described an “arc of autocracy” threatening global stability, with China prominently in focus. Nationals Party leader and then Deputy Prime MinisterBarnaby Joyce stated that China appeared to be "starting a process of encircling Australia" through the establishment of military bases. At the same time, Defence MinisterPeter Dutton described the sailing of a Chinese surveillance vessel approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of a submarine communications facility in Western Australia as an "aggressive act."[145]
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The Australian ambassador to the UN was among the 22 nations that signed a letter condemning China's arbitrary detention and mistreatment of theUyghurs and other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close theXinjiang internment camps, in July 2019.[146][147]
In June 2020, Australia openly opposed theHong Kong national security law.[148] On 9 July 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that in response to the fear over China's new national security law, Australia has suspended the extradition treaty with Hong Kong.[149] Australia was a part of a group of 39 countries that made a statement at the UN on 6 October 2020 to denounce China for its treatment of ethnic minorities and for curtailing freedoms in Hong Kong.[150]
Following the2021 Hong Kong legislative election in December 2021, the Australian Foreign MinisterMarise Payne issued a joint statement with otherFive Eyes foreign ministers criticising the exclusion of opposition candidates, the Hong Kong national security law, and the curtailment of media freedoms. The joint statement also urged Beijing to abide by its international obligations to protect human rights and freedoms in Hong Kong including those guaranteed by theSino-British Joint Declaration. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Canberra claimed that the members of theHong Kong Legislative Council had been "elected smoothly" and criticised Australia for alleged foreign interference.[151]
On 8 December 2021, prime minister Morrison announced that the Australian government would not send any diplomats or officials to the2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, following a similar announcement by the United States government over human rights concerns in Xinjiang.[152]
According toThe New York Times, many countries including Australia saw worsening relations with China during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[153][154] In June 2020, China's foreign ministry spokespersonHua Chunying criticised Prime Minister Morrison after responding to aEuropean Union report alleging that Beijing was disseminating disinformation about the pandemic.[155] The Australian government's call for an independent investigation into the causes of the pandemic[19][20] provoked angry responses from China, with Beijing calling it "a joke".[156] Western commentators, including those atThe Washington Post, identified China's subsequent targeting of Australian trade, particularly beef, barley, lobsters and coal, as being "de facto economic sanctions".[157]
A spokesman for China's ministry of foreign affairs, Geng Shuang, said, "The urgent task for all countries is focusing on international cooperation rather than pointing fingers, demanding accountability and other non-constructive approaches."[158] Chinese ambassador Cheng Jingye said that tourism and trade to Australia would suffer due to Australia's "attitude", adding "if the mood is going from bad to worse, people would think, 'Why we go to such a country that is not so friendly to China?'"Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of theGlobal Times, stated "Australia is always there, making trouble. It is a bit like chewing gum stuck on the sole of China's shoes. Sometimes you have to find a stone to rub it off."[159] Such statements have been interpreted as attempted economic coercion against Australia.[23][24] Australia's proposal, however, later evolved into a compromise motion endorsed by a record 137 countries including Australia and China at theWorld Health Assembly.[160]
By April 2020, some analysts concluded China's trade sanctions were simply an attempt to punish Australia for adopting policies and positions that China dislikes, and had been planned well before Australia's call for an independent inquiry.[161]
On 17 November 2020, an official from China's embassy inCanberra presentedNine journalist Jonathan Kearsley with a list of 14 Chinese grievances against Australia.[162] The official added at the time that "China is angry. If you make China the enemy, China will be the enemy" and that if Australia backed away from the policies on the list, it would be "conducive to a better atmosphere". The statement was seen as an open threat towards Australia.[163][164] The list, that became known as the "14 grievances" read as follows:[165]
Many of the points reflected a statement made byWang Wenbin a few days earlier, with particular reference to the 10 rejected Chinese investment projects, the ban on China building Australia's 5G network building.[167] One year later, the acting ambassador to Australia, Wang Xining, said China's list of grievances is, in fact, "longer than 14 points".[165]
On 30 November 2020, the Australian prime minister Scott Morrison demanded a formal apology from the government of China for posting an "offensive" and "outrageous" computer image of an Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife against the throat of anAfghan child, a reference to theBrereton Report in which two 14-year-old Afghanistan boys had their throats slit by Australia soldiers and covered up, which was originally created by the Chinese internet political cartoonistWuheqilin and shared by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesmanZhao Lijian.[168] The demand was made by Morrison at an unscheduled press conference held on Monday afternoon exclusively in response to the circulation of the image.[169][170] In response, the Chinese foreign ministry rejected the calls to apologise, insisting that the Australian government should be apologising for the loss of life in Afghanistan.[171] Twitter refused Morrison's request to remove Zhao's tweet,[citation needed] while the Chinese social media platformWeChat censored Morrison's message directed at the Chinese community, in which he described Australia's dealing with the alleged war crimes in an "honest and transparent way".[172]
Morrison later opposed "further amplification" and struck a more conciliatory tone, saying the government had made clear its response to the post.[173][174][175]
The New Zealand prime ministerJacinda Ardern and the French government voiced support for Australia and criticised Zhao's Twitter post,[176][177] while the Russian government stated that "the circumstances make us truly doubt the genuine capacity of Australian authorities to actually hold accountable all the servicemen who are guilty of such crimes".[178] TheAfghanistan Times Daily published an editorial welcoming both Morrison's pledge to bring the offenders to justice and China's call for more attention to unlawful killings of civilians in Afghanistan.[179]
In July 2021, some Chinese ships were seen near Australia, at a time when defence force exercises were taking place. Defence ministerPeter Dutton said that he was shocked to see them sailing near the country.[180]
On 16 September 2021, Australia announced the AUKUS security partnership that included Australia acquiring nuclear powered submarines with assistance from the United States and the United Kingdom.[25] No nuclear weapons were involved, and the submarines would carry conventional weapons only.[181] Although China was not specifically mentioned in the news announcements, critics interpreted it as a major blow to Australian-Chinese relationship, by firmly allying Australia with the United States in military terms in the region.[182] For the first time the United States and the United Kingdom would be sharing their top-secret nuclear submarine propulsion technology, which has a far wider range and lethal value than diesel-electric powered submarines.[183] Beijing reacted angrily. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the press that the deal would:
seriously damage regional peace and stability, exacerbate an arms race and harm international nuclear nonproliferation agreements....This is utterly irresponsible conduct.[184]
According to Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at theAustralian National University, "The level of Chinese economic coercion and cyber espionage against Australia was once unimaginable, so our security agencies have learned to consider worst-case possibilities....[AUKUS] is an alignment made in Beijing."[185] Under AUKUS, Sheftalovich and Lau said, the three allies would share advanced technologies "including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum computing, underwater systems and long-range strike capabilities." Michael Shoebridge, a director at the influentialAustralian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think tank, said, "It's a remarkable collapse in Australia-China relations and a massive deterioration in Australia's security outlook that's led to this outcome."[186]
Australian opposition to the AUKUS submarine announcement included Former Prime MinisterPaul Keating's National Press Club address,[187] and in culture,Jennifer Maiden's poetry collection The China Shelf.[188][189]
Victor Gao, a Chinese academic, reacted strongly to the deal, warning that it could make Australia a target for nuclear attacks. Gao described the agreement with the United States and the United Kingdom as a "gross violation of international law" and accused Australia of acting without strategic foresight. He argued that the move undermined regional stability and drew Australia into potential military conflicts alongside the U.S., suggesting it compromised Australia's sovereignty and exposed it to severe geopolitical consequences.[190]
Australia has provided defence and security assistance to the Solomon Islands since 1927, their soldiers both fighting against the Japanese in 1942–43.[191] In late March 2022, a draft security pact betweenChina and the Solomon Islands emerged, which would allow Beijing to deploy military forces in the country and establish its own military base, thought Prime Minister Sogavare later denied this.[192] Senior Australian officials including Morrison, Defence MinisterPeter Dutton, and Foreign MinisterMarise Payne expressed concerns about the expansion of Chinese influence in the South Pacific region, which Australia regards as its "backyard."[193][194][195] In response to Australian criticism of the proposed security pact, Sogavare defended the security pact with China on national sovereignty grounds. He also criticised the leaking of the document and objecting to the Australian media coverage for sensationalising the issue.[196] In addition, the Chinese Government defended the bilateral pact and rejected Australian criticism that Beijing was coercing the Solomon Islands.[197]
The relationship between the two countries started to improve afterAnthony Albanese of the Labor Party won the2022 federal elections.[198] In mid-June 2022,Deputy Prime Minister andDefence MinisterRichard Marles met with ChineseDefence MinisterWei Fenghe at theShangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. This was the highest level bilateral contact between the two countries for almost three years. Marles and Wei discussed the recent Chinese interception of aRoyal Australian Air Force (RAAF)Boeing P-8 Poseidon over theSouth China Sea and Oceania.[199] At the Shangri-La Dialogue, Marles reiterated theAlbanese government's desire to pursue a "productive relationship" with China while still upholding its own national interests and regional security within a rules-based system. Marles also sought to allay Chinese concerns that AUKUS was similar toNATO, stating that AUKUS sought to foster the sharing and development of capabilities between Australia, the United Kingdom, and United States.[200] In November 2022 prime minister Albanese met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during theG20 summit in Bali.[198] In December 2022Australian Foreign MinisterPenny Wong visited China, the first Australian minister to visit the country since 2019, where she met Chinese Foreign MinisterWang Yi.[201]
In March 2023 Albanese officially commenced AUKUS with president Biden and United Kingdom prime ministerRishi Sunak, which was negatively received by China.[202] Under AUKUS, Australia will purchaseVirginia class nuclear powered submarines from the United States and also build a new class of nuclear powered submarines SSN-AUKUS in Australia in cooperation with the United States and the United Kingdom.[203] In early 2023, China ended its unofficial ban on imports of Australian coal,[204] with all restrictions reportedly being lifted by 14 March.[205] On 11 April the countries announced that they reached an agreement over disputes over China's barley imports from Australia, with China agreeing to review its tariffs in exchange for Australia suspending a case against China in the World Trade Organization (WTO).[206] A day later,Ma Zhaoxu, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Australia, the first by a senior Chinese official since 2017.[207] In May, AustralianMinister for Trade and TourismDon Farrell visited Beijing, the first visit by an Australian trade minister to China since 2019; Farrell said the trip "is just another step in the road of stabilising the relationship".[208] Chinese ambassador to AustraliaXiao Qian announced on 18 May that China would allow imports of Australian timber, which was suspended in 2020.[209]
In September 2023 the two countries held a High-Level Dialogue in Beijing, the first in three years, with former trade ministerCraig Emerson leading the Australian delegation, while China was represented by former foreign ministerLi Zhaoxing. Later that month, Albanese met with Chinese PremierLi Qiang on the sidelines of theEast Asia Summit held in Jakarta.[210] On 11 October Australian journalistCheng Lei, a former news anchor of the China Global Television who was detained in September 2020, was released and returned to Australia. Since her detention, the Australian government had campaigned for her release.[211] Between 4 and 7 November, Albanese visited Shanghai and Beijing, becoming the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years.[212] The trip, described as an effort to get relations between Australia and China on track, coincided with the 50th anniversary of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's visit to China, the first by an Australian prime minister.[213] During the trip, he gave a speech at theChina International Import Expo, and met with Premier Li Qiang and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.[214]
While operating in Japan's waters in November 2023, Royal Australian Navy divers fromHMAS Toowoomba were preparing to clear away fishing nets from the propellers of the ship.[215] Though asked to stay clear theChinese destroyer Ningbo, used its hull-mounted medium/high-frequency sonar system to attack and injure the divers.[216][217] At the time, Beijing denied that the incident took place, though Australia's Vice AdmiralMark Hammond is known to have later directly raised Australia's concerns with China's Chief Admiral,Hu Zhongming[218]
In early February 2024 Defence Minister Marles confirmed that Australia would brief New Zealand about AUKUS Pillar 2 developments following a joint bilateral meeting between Australian and New Zealand foreign and defence ministers in Melbourne.[219][220] During the meeting Wong, Marles and their New Zealand counterpartsWinston Peters, andJudith Collins issued a joint statement expressing concerns about human rights violations inXinjiang,Tibet andHong Kong.[221] In response, the Chinese Embassy inWellington issued a statement condemning critical statements about China's internal affairs and describing AUKUS as "counter to the letter and spirit of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime."[222][221] In mid-March 2024, Wong met with Wang Yi in CanberraPenny Wong during the Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue.[223]
In May 2024, 20 Australian lawmakers, all belonging to theInter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), revealed that they had been targeted by Chinese spies (APT31) when theUnited States Department of Justice indicted seven Chinese hackers the month prior.[224] The same month, Defence Minister Marles denounced an incident in which a ChineseJ-10 dropped flares in close proximity to an AustralianMH60R Seahawk helicopter.[225] The helicopter had been operating offHMAS Hobart in international waters in theYellow Sea, as it enforced UN-mandated sanctions against North Korea.[226][227]
In mid-June 2024 Prime Minister Albanese hosted Premier Li Qiang during his state visit to Australia. China agreed to extend visa-free access to Australians visiting China for up to 15 days. The two governments also agreed to provide reciprocal five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business and visiting family members. The two governments also agreed to hold talks on improving bilateral military relations to avoid incidents such as the 2023 sonar attack on HMASToowoomba. Premier Li also met withOpposition leaderPeter Dutton and Australian Governor-GeneralDavid Hurley. Qiang also visited a lithium plant inPerth and Australian business leaders. Despite a largely productive visit, an incident occurred when Chinese officials attempted to obstructSky News Australia journalistCheng Lei, who had previously been released from Chinese imprisonment.[228][229]
On 13 February 2025, the Australian Defence Department lodged a formal complaint with thePeople's Liberation Army following an incident in theSouth China Sea on 11 February in which a Chinese fighter jet released flares within 30 metres (98 ft) of an RAAF P-8 Poseidon aircraft.[230] On 20 February, the Australian and New Zealand Defence Ministers Marles andJudith Collins confirmed that theAustralian andNew Zealand militaries were tracking three Chinese warships that were sailing throughAustralia's exclusive economic zone near Sydney.[231][232][233] The warships conductedlive-fire exercises without official notice.[234][235] In response to Chinese naval live-fire exercises disrupting international flights in theTasman Sea, Foreign Minister Wong met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at theG20 summit inSouth Africa to raise Australian concerns about Chinese naval activities near Australia.[236][237]
On 10 April 2025, Albanese and Marles declined Chinese Ambassador to AustraliaXiao Qian's invitation for Australia to "join hands" against US PresidentDonald Trump'stariffs. Albanese said that "Australians would speak for ourselves" while Marles said that Australia "would not be holding China's hand."[238] Albanese went on a six-day visit to China in July 2025, touringBeijing,Shanghai, andChengdu.[239] Criticizing his visits to theGreat Wall and a panda breeding center, theCoalition called the trip "indulgent", although Albanese responded by suggesting that the visits were about showing respect to China.[240] According to critics, Albanese ignored the issue ofhuman rights in China and focused only on trade.[241][242]
In October 2025, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a historic bilateral defense treaty containing obligations of mutual defense. The agreement drew concern from China, which stated that such treaties should not be exclusive or undermine the legitimate interests of third parties. The Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea emphasized that the pact should refrain from targeting any country.[243] The same month, a ChineseSu-35 dropped flares near an Australian P-8 Poseidon on patrol over the South China Sea,[244] prompting Australia to label the encounter unsafe and unprofessional. China responded by accusing Australia of illegally entering airspace over the Paracel Islands and lodged a formal complaint.[245][246] In November 2025, National People's Congress Standing Committee ChairmanZhao Leji visited Australia, where he met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.[247]
China is one of the largest countries of origin forimmigrants to Australia, particularly for permanent residents, temporary foreign workers, and international students. At the 2021 census, 1,390,637 Australian residents identified themselves as havingChinese ancestry, accounting for 5.5% of the total population.[248][249] In 2019, the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that there were 677,240 Australian residents born inmainland China, 101,290 born inHong Kong and 59,250 born inTaiwan.[248]
Australia engages in "freedom of navigation exercises" (also known as "freedom of navigation operations" orFONOPs) in one of the many disputedsea routes in the region between the two countries.Some of these are conducted in cooperation with the United States, New Zealand, or other countries.Areas of dispute include theSouth China Sea andTaiwan Strait.China has objected to United States and allied countries' FONOPs in theSouth China Sea as "provocative," contending that foreign military ships traveling through territorial seas and foreign EEZs does not constitute "innocent passage".[250][251] China sometimesresponds with naval exercises near Australian waters.
In December 2025, Australian defense officials stated that the country was monitoring a Chinese navy flotilla operating in the Philippine Sea. According to The Guardian, the deployment occurred at the same time as the Australian government announced a major defense overhaul that included plans to expand surveillance and maritime capabilities. Australian authorities described the monitoring as part of routine regional security awareness, while analysts noted that such movements reflected ongoing strategic competition between Australia and China in the western Pacific.[252]
In 2018, in theLowy Institute poll there had a sharp rise in the proportion of the Australian population who say the Australian government is "allowing too much investment from China". This number rose from 56 per cent in 2014 to 72 per cent in 2018.[253]
In 2021, 42% of Australians believed China was likely to attack Australia and 49% believed the same for Taiwan. 13% believed that an attack on Taiwan by China will happen soon. 62% of Australians also believed that China was a "very aggressive" country.[254]
In 2022, a poll conducted by the Lowy Institute showed that 51% of Australians would support sending military support to Taiwan if China were to invade, up from 43% in 2021. The same survey showed only 12% trusted China on foreign affairs, down from 16% in 2021 and 52% in 2018.[255][254]
In 2025, according to a Lowy Institute poll, Australian public opinion on China is nearly evenly divided, with 50% viewing it as an economic partner and 47% as a security threat. Although perceptions have improved slightly since their lowest point in 2022, trust and confidence in China remain low, with 69% of Australians believing it is likely China will become a military threat within the next 20 years. Additionally, 67% support Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines, and 60% favor increased cooperation with allies to deter China's potential use of military force.[256][257] Former Prime MinisterScott Morrison, while referring to the poll, stated that shifting public attitudes in Australia toward viewing China more as an economic partner than a security threat reflected the effectiveness of the Chinese Communist Party's "influence operations". He warned that such changes in perception were part of a deliberate CCP strategy to weaken democratic vigilance by fostering complacency. Morrison emphasized that this manipulation of public opinion posed a serious risk, asserting that it was vital for citizens in Western democracies to remain alert to the underlying strategic threat from Beijing.[258]
| Question:Do you think it is likely or unlikely that China will become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Somewhat likely | Very likely | Likely (total) | Change |
| 2009 | 15% | 26% | 41% | — |
| 2010 | 19% | 27% | 46% | +5% |
| 2011 | 18% | 26% | 44% | -2% |
| 2012 | 14% | 26% | 40% | -4% |
| 2013 | 16% | 25% | 41% | +1% |
| 2014 | 19% | 29% | 48% | +7% |
| 2015 | 14% | 25% | 39% | -9% |
| 2017 | 15% | 31% | 46% | +7% |
| 2018 | 14% | 31% | 45% | -1% |
| 2022 | 32% | 43% | 75% | +30% |
| 2023 | 29% | 46% | 75% | — |
| 2024 | 25% | 46% | 71% | -4% |
| 2025 | 27% | 42% | 69% | -2% |
| Source:Lowy Institute | ||||
| Question:In your own view, is China more of an economic partner or more of a security threat to Australia? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Economic partner | Security threat | Both |
| 2015 | 77% | 15% | 4% |
| 2017 | 79% | 13% | 5% |
| 2018 | 82% | 12% | 0% |
| 2020 | 55% | 41% | 3% |
| 2021 | 34% | 63% | 1% |
| 2022 | 33% | 63% | 3% |
| 2023 | 44% | 52% | 2% |
| 2024 | 44% | 53% | 2% |
| 2025 | 50% | 47% | 2% |
| Source:Lowy Institute | |||
economic coercion
economic coercion
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This article incorporates text published under the BritishOpen Government Licence v3.0:Ministry of Defence;Defence Nuclear Organisation (14 March 2023)."The AUKUS Nuclear Powered-Submarine Pathway: A Partnership for the Future"(PDF). pp. 7–8.Archived(PDF) from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved17 March 2023.| Africa |  | |
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