How Australia-China relations have hit ‘lowest ebb in decades’

Tensions between Australia and China have recently read like the edge-of-your-seat part of a geopolitical thriller; no-one knows exactly where the story is going or how it’s going to end.

“The Australia-China relationship is unravelling at a pace that could not have been contemplated just six months ago,” academic James Laurenceson wrote recently.

Take the escalation in recent weeks alone. Chinese authorities confirmed that Cheng Lei, an Australian citizen and high-profile host for China’s English-language broadcaster CGTN, had been detained on suspicion of endangering national security.

Shortly after, the last two correspondents working for Australian media in China were rushed home on the advice of diplomats. It played out in mindboggling fashion.

On the eve of ABC reporter Bill Birtles’ hastily planned departure from Beijing, seven Chinese police officers arrived on his doorstep in the middle of the night. A similar visit was paid to the Australian Financial Review’s Michael Smith in Shanghai.

Each took refuge in Australian diplomatic missions but were prevented from leaving China until they were questioned over vague “national security” matters. Mr Birtles said he felt like a “pawn in a diplomatic tussle”.

The day after the pair arrived home, Chinese state media reported that Australian intelligence agents had questioned several Chinese journalists in June and seized their devices “in violation of legitimate rights”.

Australian media reported that incident was linked to an investigation by intelligence officials and police into alleged foreign interference. It followed raids in June on the offices of New South Wales state MP Shaoquett Moselmane, a staunch supporter of Beijing who later said he was not personally under investigation.

Most recently, two Australian academics were banned from entering China – a move one argued had been in retaliation to Canberra revoking the visas of two Chinese scholars.

At any other time, one of these incidents could be enough to sustain headlines for some time – but these happened in rapid succession.

The back story
Anger and mistrust between the countries has been bubbling under the surface for years.

A turning point happened in 2017 after the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) warned of growing Chinese attempts to influence decision-making in Canberra. Donations from Chinese businessmen to local politicians also came to light.

Late in the year, Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull announced laws designed to curb foreign interference. Beijing responded by freezing diplomatic visits.

In 2018, Australia became the first country to publicly ban the Chinese tech giant Huawei from being involved in its 5G network, citing national security reasons. There have been numerous other flashpoints since.

Through all the turmoil, however, Australia’s trade relationship with its biggest customer largely flourished.

China may have been furious with Australia, but its ever-growing economy remained hungry for Australian natural resources. So, the iron ore, coal and liquified natural gas continued to flow to China, and Chinese tourists and students and a huge export income continued to flow to Australia.