Foreign affairs

On September 23 2015 ACRI hosted a roundtable event on the South China Sea in collaboration with a delegation from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV), a research institute under Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The event began with a presentation by Dr Dang Dinh Quy, President of the DAV, followed by a discussion on territorial claims in the South China Sea, Chinese foreign policy and the Australian position.

The roundtable was an insightful entry to the perspectives of ASEAN members and in particular Vietnamese thinking about China’s role in the region.

On October 5 2011 in a speech to the London School of Economics, Malcolm Turnbull said: “It makes no sense for America, or its allies, to base long-term strategic policy on the contentious proposition that we are on an inevitable collision course with a militarily aggressive China … it is important to note that China’s growth in power, both economic and military, has not been matched by any expansionist tendencies beyond reuniting Taiwan … China has more to lose than most from any conflict that disrupts global economic flows”.[

Malcom Fraser was Prime Minister from November 1975 to March 1983. In June 1976 his first extended overseas visit as Prime Minister was to Japan and China rather than to Britain or the United States.

Fraser had a history of hostility towards China as a Liberal backbencher and then as Minister for the Army and Minister for Defence. As Prime Minister, Fraser pursued the relationship between Australia and China as a priority, marking the beginning of bipartisanship in Australia’s China policy.

The Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) presented a tribute to former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and his work with Australia–China relations on August 17 2015 in Melbourne. The event was hosted by Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

In 2010 Professor Hugh White challenged Australians when he wrote ‘Power Shift: Australia’s future between Washington and Beijing’, published in the academic journal Quarterly Essay.

White argued that in order to meet its interests in Asia Australia should persuade the US to relinquish primacy in the region. He asserted that the best outcome for stability in the Asia-Pacific would be a power-sharing agreement between these two great nations. He posited a ‘Concert of Asia’ to balance state interests and achieve shared leadership between major powers in the region.

This policy paper is the first comprehensive account of a diplomatic success story: the relationship between New Zealand and China in trade, investment and foreign policy.

New Zealand runs a successful China policy, putting its national interests before the comfort of “likeminded” positions and moving quickly and independently to conclude agreements with China with big benefits. It was the first to sign a high-quality, comprehensive FTA with China and the first to recognise China as a market economy.

The Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) is proud to announce the launch of New Zealand’s China Policy: Building a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a policy paper written by the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington. This is the first comprehensive account of a diplomatic success story: the relationship between New Zealand and China in trade, investment and foreign policy.

On July 07 2015 Dr Enrico Letta, Italy's 55th Prime Minister (April 2013 to February 2014), shared his expertise on the EU perspective on free trade agreements, the relationships between EU members and ASEAN and the relationship between Italy and Asia.

Bob Hawke was Prime Minister from 1983 to 1991. During that time he enjoyed a close personal relationship with the Chinese leadership and pioneered the integration of the Australian and Chinese iron and steel industries.

“An unusually close relationship”

On March 5 1983 Bob Hawke won the election and replaced Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister.

On June 4 2015 the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney presented the second instalment of our ‘Prime Ministers Series’. The Hon. Bob Hawke AC was Prime Minister from December 1983 to December 1991. He was Australia’s longest serving Labor Prime Minister, with four terms in office.

Mr Hawke discussed Australia’s burgeoning relationship with China during his time in as Prime Minister and contemporary developments in Chinese diplomacy with renowned journalist and broadcaster Geraldine Doogue.