Global Courant
SYDNEY — Australians support a resumption of dialogue with Beijing, increasingly viewing China as an economic partner rather than a security threat, a new survey found, after relations collapsed in 2020.
Some 56 percent of respondents think renewed ministerial contacts with China are very or somewhat positive for Australia’s national interests, a poll by the Lowy Institute found.
Those who saw China as a threat fell by 11 points to 52 percent, while those who saw China as an economic partner rose by the same percentage to 44 percent.
The survey of 2,077 adults was conducted between March 14 and March 26 and had a 2.2% margin of error, according to Lowy, a Sydney-based policy think tank.
Ties with China, Australia’s largest trading partner, have warmed steadily since the election of the centre-left Labor government in May 2022.
Beijing has lifted some restrictions on Australian goods and summits have been held between foreign, trade and defense ministers after a long pause.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is also expected to visit Beijing before the end of this year.
Still, the cold in ties with Australians remains, according to the survey, which found trust, confidence and warmth towards China and President Xi Jinping remain low.
Five years ago, more than half of Australians trusted Beijing to act responsibly in the world, while that figure is now just 15 percent.
Concerns about a possible war between the US and China are high, with more than half of respondents saying Australia should remain neutral in such a case.
But in a conflict over Taiwan, Australians are less ambivalent about acting in concert with the US – even if it means sending military supplies to the government in Taipei or deploying the Royal Australian Navy to prevent China from launching a blockade. around Taiwan.” said Mr. Michael Fullilove, Executive Director of the Lowy Institute.
Still, a majority of respondents said they would not support the deployment of Australian troops to Taiwan in the event of an invasion by China.
In March, Australia announced it would buy a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines from the US as part of the Aukus safety deal that also includes the UK, at a potential cost of more than A$360 billion (S$328 billion).
