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| China | Australia |
Sino-Australian relations refers to the relations between the Australian Commonwealth and the People's Republic of China. China and Australia actively take part in a close and politically robust partnership.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on December 21, 1972.[1]
Today, China is Australia's largest trading partner.[2]
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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 of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with small Chinese communities in regional centers, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria. There are also Chinatowns in every Australian capital city, including Darwin and large, public Chinese New Year Celebrations in Melbourne and Sydney. The current Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd also has strong connections with Chinese culture having studied Chinese at the Australian National University in Canberra. He also speaks fluent Mandarin.
Whilst economic relations between China and Australia have increased significantly to the benefit of both nations, Australia under the previous Howard Government has appeared reluctant to pursue closer political/military ties with China and has maintained the role of George W. Bush controversially dubbed "America's Deputy" in the Asia-Pacific Region.[3]
When, on June 15, 2007, the Prime Minister John Howard received the Dalai Lama,[4] China protested, with official critics.[5]
The election of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister of Australia has been seen as favorable to Sino-Australian relations, notably in view of the fact that he is the first Australian Prime Minister to speak fluent Mandarin, and that closer engagement with Asia is one of the "Three Pillars" of his foreign policy.
In 2004, Rudd, who at the time was Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, had delivered a speech in Beijing entitled "Australia and China: A Strong and Stable Partnership for the 21st Century".[6]
In February 2008, Australia reportedly "chastised Taiwan for its renewed push for independence" and "reiterated its support for a one-China policy".[7] In April, however, Rudd addressed Chinese students at Peking University,[8] and, speaking in Mandarin, referred to "significant human rights problems in Tibet".[9][10] Rudd also raised the issue in talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, in a context of "simmering diplomatic tension" according to TV3.[11]
In July 2009, following the arrest in China of Australian mining executive Stern 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"[12]. Later in August 2009, the PRC government protested against the Australian government after Rebiya Kadeer was granted a visa to visit Australia to attend the Melbourne International Film Festival[13]. Along with the Rio Tinto espionage case and the failed bid for Chinalco to purchase a higher stake in the Rio Tinto Group, such events are generally considered as lowest ever points in Sino-Australian relations for the past few years.[14] China has also effectively banned visits by senior Australian officials, in protest against the events in question. [15]
Despite the souring of relations within 2009, on August 19, 2009, Chinese petroleum company PetroChina signed an AU$50 billion deal with ExxonMobil to purchase liquefied natural gas from the Gorgon field in Western Australia,[16][17] considered the largest contract ever signed between China and Australia, which ensures China a steady supply of LPG fuel for 20 years, and also forms as China's largest supply of relatively "clean energy"[18][19][20].
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   | China embassy, China-Australian relations - China-Australia Relations |
| | John Howard meets Dalai Lama to talk Tibet - John Howard meets Dalai Lama to talk Tibet - www.phayul.com |
| | Ambassade de Chine en France, Conférence de presse du 12 juin 2007 - Conférence de presse du 12 juin 2007 |
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