How might Australia’s ties with China and Asean change after the May 21 election?
- While both the ruling Liberal coalition and opposition Labor parties are talking tough on Beijing, analysts say the latter may adopt a ‘less provocative’ brand of diplomacy
- Whoever wins, Australia will need a new policy of engaging with and investing more ‘financially and intellectually’ with Southeast Asia amid its China calculations, observers say
Australia is days away from a federal election on May 21, at a time when security concerns over China’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region are ramping up.
Last week, Labor shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus said at an election panel debate with other candidates in Sydney that finding common ground with China on shared interests such as climate change was key to striking a reset without compromising Australia’s values and security.
“The reason I mentioned [climate change] is it is an example of a non-defence, but nevertheless very international-national matter, that we can find grounds to talk to China about,” he said, adding that statements from the government about going to war with China reflected how unsophisticated Australia was “in the international world of diplomacy”.
His words echoed those of shadow foreign minister Penny Wong, who last year said during a speech in Canberra that while “military capability matters”, it was not enough. Labor says it will rebuild Australia’s diplomatic service.
This may hint at some potential shifts in Australia’s tone with China if the government changes, analysts say.
