The Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, has been set a difficult task by his government on China. The difficulty was probably more accidental than deliberate (and therefore more culpable in diplomatic terms). Australia’s upgraded security arrangements with the US have been seen by China as making Australia the southern arm of a US-inspired pincer (with Japan the northern arm) by which the US hopes to contain China. It puts Australia in a containment role, rather than an engagement role. The proposed visit to Taiwan by the Deputy Leader of the National Party, Ian Armstrong, has also upset China, even though the visit has been described as unofficial. It has left Mr Downer chanting a one-China policy while acting a two-China policy.
Further the axing of the DIFF scheme which helps Australian companies in China and elsewhere has also upset China.
China is also upset that Tibet’s Dali Lama will be received in Australia at the highest government level.
Australia cannot conduct foreign policy on the level of not upsetting China, but nor can it expect to be listened in China on important questions of human rights if it is insensitive to Chinese views when it deals in matters of security and trade. Australia was right to welcome the Dali Lama, but Australia’s human-rights message to China is bound to be lost when it puts the selfish elements of foreign policy (security and trade) in such an anti-Chinese way. The Armstrong visit is probably unnecessary and if Australia is to upgrade US ties, it should have done more preliminary explanatory work in Asia, rather than be forced into bumbling explanations which could be seen as disingenuous later.