Link to article: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202311/07/WS654a0e38a31090682a5ecf08.html
This weekend, Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, visited Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier (second in ranking) in Beijing. The two discussed the willingness to strengthen the connection and cooperation between each other. Despite the two countries’ differences in views and values, they are trade partners and have a strategic partnership given the proximity. Li said that China is ready to work with Australia to follow economic laws, strengthen cooperation, and avoid letting politics get in the way of economics and trade and stretching security issues into these aspects to promote regional prosperity. Albanese also expressed interest in deepening mutual understanding and increasing cooperation to achieve regional prosperity and constructive development.
This meeting, despite not doing much more directly than increasing talks and pushing towards a closer connection, conveys the look for stability in the region. With China looking to expand, it is seeking out partners and attempting to form relationships and deeper connections with countries around the region to avoid an overwhelming amount of opposition if they eventually look to take Taiwan. In regards to its implications for Australia, it provides a bit more security for the state, working towards peace and potentially a future increase in connection. Whether it be through increased trade, security, or another aspect, this meeting looked to push the two countries’ relationship in a positive direction in a time of worry in the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.
This meeting does not have much global impact, however, it is a small piece in a puzzle of China looking to obtain better connections and more wealth to put itself in a position to increase its power status. Regionally, a deeper connection between the two makes the threat of China to its surrounding countries slightly more threatening, if China happens to get an increase in some sort of material, product, or advantage from the cooperation. Looking domestically, this pushes Australia towards a feeling of increased security and can lead to economic opportunities, likely in the form of increased imports from China. From China’s perspective, it will keep Australia from wanting to oppose them if China attempts to take territory.