During a recent visit to the People’s Republic, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took pains to praise the totalitarian dictatorship for “lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty” and, says News Corps Australia, was gobsmacked by the growth of Shanghai, which he says is “one of the world’s great global cities” (“PM heaps praise on China alongside CCP’s Shanghai chief,” July 12, 2025).
One of the benefits of China’s growth and world-engagement has been “increased economic engagement with countries like Australia.”
Another benefit of China’s growth and world-engagement has been expansion of resources for developing and imposing China’s totalitarian rule. But Albanese didn’t get around to mentioning it.
Super-important relationship
”My government very much values our relationship with China,” Albanese said.
“We deal with each other in a calm and consistent manner, and we want to continue to pursue our national interests, and it is in our interest to have good relations with China.”
Within recent memory, including Albanese’s, didn’t China give Australia the full gray-zone treatment as a means of intimidation and domination? Does the prime minister really regard that weeks-long incident—Chinese warships circling Australia, “passing within 200 miles of Sydney, and staging unprecedented live-fire drills on its doorstep with New Zealand”—as constituting a part of the “calm and consistent manner” he’s telling us about?
Albanese: ”My visit here will enable us to have further frank and constructive dialogue, which is so important for relations between our two countries and to promote stability and prosperity in our region.
“One of the things about Australia and China that’s so important is that we build people-to-people relations.
“And we do that by the participation of Australians here, whether it be here in football, whether it be the leading tournament that’s going to take place in Chengdu, for the Australian Open, whether it be the business relationships that we have here as well.”
After then meeting with Xi Jinping, the prime minister mentioned in a press conference that one of the purposes of dialogue is to “guard against misunderstanding.” He said that Xi agrees about the important of dialogue and the importance of trade. Albanese acknowledged that China “has a different system” and also touted the prospect of “new engagement in areas such as decarbonization.” Help.
Not-so-important relationship
As Albanese was getting ready to discuss “lighter topics, like trade and tourism campaigns” on his way to China a few days ago, the United States wanted to know whether Australia, which may or may not be getting nuclear submarines from the U.S., would be supporting the U.S. side if war broke out between the United States and China.
Albanese says that he cares about the alliance with the United States but that there’s no way he can make a commitment of that sort in advance.
“The sole power to commit Australia to war, or to allow our territory to be used for conflict, is the elected government of the day. That is our position. Sovereignty will always be prioritised and that will continue to be our position.” Nobody (but China) may challenge the sovereignty of Australia.
Also see:
Maritime Executive: “Is Australia Doing Enough to Ensure Confidence in the AUKUS Sub Deal?”
“With no published timelines, even loyal supporters are left wondering whether Canberra can meet its AUKUS obligations….” (AUKUS: “security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States” announced in September 2021.)
CNN: “China’s warships are turning up in unexpected places and alarming US allies. Is this the new normal?” (March 6, 2025)
StoptheCCP.org: “People-to-People Power Isn’t Converting the Chinese Communist Party”
StoptheCCP.org: “China, the Crazy Neighbor Who Just Won’t Leave People Alone”
“The risks of testing China’s will to escalate may not be as great as we think.”
