Australia's Chinese Entanglement

By: Katie Pfefferle

Australia and China have been developing closer relations through increased economic interdependence. However, lately there has been an increase in Australian antipathy towards the Chinese government. Australia and China have become increasingly economically interdependent. China is Australia’s biggest trading partner. China needs and uses Australia’s coal, iron and other mineral riches to fuel its industrialization. Meanwhile, China is Australia’s second biggest export market. Australia’s economic relationship with China has helped soften the blow of the economic downturn.

However, many Australians dislike or are wary of China. The dictatorial power’s policies angry many Australians. For example, last year in Canberra the Chinese embassy tried to put together squads of Chinese students in Australia to “smother” Australian pro-Tibet demonstrations. The Chinese government actually tried to suppress free speech in Australia. Furthermore, many defense strategists see China as Australia’s biggest security threat. Currently, Australia still considers itself the United States’ sheriff in Asia. Yet, what should Australia do as U.S. power wanes and Chinese power rises? Being caught in between two major powers could be a very uncomfortable situation for Australia in the future.