Amid this collapse came China’s unilateral trade sanctions in retaliation against Morrison’s unilateral call for an international commission to investigate the origins of COVID-19. There was nothing wrong with the content of Morrison’s call. I had previously done the same in an open letter inThe New York Times co-signed by dozens of other former political leaders. But he failed to take the time to co-ordinate a united front with European and Asian friends and allies. Instead,Morrison charged over the parapet,apparently hoping to claim glory for himself. And Australian industry took the bullet.
This is the relationship inherited by the Labor government six months ago. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong have sensibly taken the political temperature down several notches by refraining from regular ill-considered outbursts. The rhetorical heat has similarly dropped on China’s side. Ministerial contact – frozen for almost three years – resumed immediately. And when our PM sat down with Xi this week in Bali,it marked the end of an unprecedented six-year freeze at that most senior level.
Is everything fixed? Of course not. Even with patient and effective diplomacy,there will still be disagreements. As I urged Morrison at the time,there are five core principles that should guide any Australian government dealing with China under Xi:unapologetic commitment to universal human rights,anchored in international law;unapologetic support for the US alliance,though not as an automatic compliance with every element of American policy;third,maximise economic engagement to our mutual advantage,such as the resumption of normal tourism and student flows;fourth,maximum collaboration with China through global institutions on climate change,global economic stability,nuclear non-proliferation and future pandemic management;and finally,when we do need to part company with China,do so in partnership with friends and allies. It’s safer to hunt in packs.
We cannot simply wish away the real differences of strategy,policy and values. But neither should we ignore our mutual interests. If we hope to celebrate this 50th anniversary of the bilateral relationship,one positive step forward on China’s side would be to lift the sanctions imposed on the Morrison government. This would finally draw a line under the recent past. As well as clearing a path to jointly address our common challenges and opportunities for the future.
There will be many of both.
Dr Rudd,a former Australian prime minister and foreign affairs minister,is global president of the Asia Society.
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