For years, Australia and China benefited from each other, the mood shifts. Canberra is with the United States to confrontation with Beijing. The decisive factor will be how long the Australians hold the economical by.
In addition to the USA, no country is likely to be China currently so suspicious, such as Australia. “The values of Beijing do not match those in Australia,” said interior Minister Peter Dutton recently, and he made his “vicious Anti-China rhetoric” in China for outrage. His words are an “open provocation of the Chinese people,” said China’s Ambassador in Australia. And also the Australian Opposition spoke of a lack of “diplomatic skills”.
Australia was a few years ago, still one of the strongest supporters of China in the West. Canberra’s list of allegations of donations is long: theft of intellectual property, influence on students and universities – for example, through Confucius institutes, as well as undermining of democracy by Beijing loyalty of politicians and opaque money.
Students of the University of Queensland, organised in July a rally against the Chinese influence on the Campus
Add to that scandals such as the arrest of the in Australia, naturalized Ex-diplomats and political blogger Yang Hengjun, who is being held without presentation of Evidence in China due to Spying or cyber attack on the Australian Parliament to have been committed at the beginning of the year of Chinese hackers.
Australia’s Blockade Measures
Meanwhile, the Australian government is trying to the Chinese influence in Australia, active to curb. A new law provides political influence from abroad, under penalty. Chinese investment in sensitive areas such as electricity networks or large agricultural areas are prohibited. In the Development of the 5G network in Canberra follows the Alliance partners, the United States and has denied the Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei any orders. Premier Scott Morrison calls for China as a developing country, classified. And interior Minister Dutton called for an “open debate” on the New silk road, China’s military Expansion in the South China sea and the expansion of Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.
DW-columnist Frank Sieren
A Problem Australia has, however, China is the largest trading partner for the Australians is currently. 38 per cent of Australia’s exports go to the people’s Republic. The eight per cent of the Australian gross domestic product (GDP). No country other country in the world is so dependent on China.
Economic Disadvantages
So far, Australia’s economy has been growing for 28 years, of work and immigrants from China consume benefits. Of the 25 million Australians, around 1.2 million come from Chinese families. Many now fear to be victim of anti-Chinese sentiment, and to be in security-related Occupations, discriminated against. Currently, more than 100,000 Chinese students in Australia study and high tuition to pay fees. Also, they are regarded in the Australian media with suspicion, since some of China made during the solidarity protests with Hong Kong, according to heavily on the side of the mainland. Also, the Chinese tourism is also an important economic factor for Australia, is no longer growing as slowly as the past nine years. The tensions have led to tourists and students from China to Australia to return already in the back. Within the next two years, the apparent decline could cost the country $ 543 million, experts estimate.
The United States put on a security Alliance with Australia, India and Japan to China in the Indo-Pacific boundaries. As a response to China’s rise, Australia has increased its military. Last year, the country has become the second largest importer of arms, behind Saudi Arabia and ahead of China and India. The like Washington.
At the end of the business relationships: Huawei in Australia
After all, Australia is benefiting economically from the trade dispute between China and the United States. Australia now supplies about 60 percent of China’s iron ore imports and over half of the coal imports.
Currently, Canberra and Washington are working on an agreement to reduce the dependence on China, in particular in the supply of Rare earths. China supplied around 70 percent of the world with the raw materials for batteries and mobile phones. Australia has at least 14 of the 35 varieties, which will be needed in the U.S. High-Tech industry. Also the economic cooperation with Japan and South Korea will be extended. Beijing declared itself aware of, that you are not reliant on Australian raw materials and could also purchase from somewhere else.
Alone against China
However, Australia is isolated in the Region, with its confrontational course towards China. The other neighbors back rather closer to the ascending world power. And Australia wants to be a part of the largest free trade zone in the world, the “Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership”, in short, RCEP, which is currently being negotiated. It should include the ten Asean countries in Southeast Asia, together with Japan, South Korea, China, India, Australia, and new Zealand’s largest trading block in the world. The proposed agreement builds on existing trading contracts and wants to eliminate existing tariffs on 90 percent of traded Goods within a period of fifteen years. In the future free trade zone 3.5 billion people, nearly half of the world’s population lives. Washington does not fit, it is that Australians want to be there.
And here it shows what will be the crucial question: How long will the voters want, that the Australian government is doing the confrontation, if the economic disadvantages of this policy will arrive in your everyday life? One thing is clear: Canberra’s partners, Washington is hardly in a position, the economic losses to intercept.
Our columnist Frank Sieren has lived for more than 20 years in Beijing.