澳洲總理阿爾巴尼斯7月12日(上週六)前往中國, 出訪6天, 這是自2023年11月後再次出訪。在不到兩年之間, 阿爾巴尼斯再次訪問中國, 不少人都在問, 澳洲是否正在進一步調整與中國的關係?

阿爾巴尼斯週六抵達上海, 在週日如上次到訪一般, 出現在上海外灘大道上晨跑, 向中國人民致意, 並推動旅遊、文化及運動交流。其後阿爾巴尼斯到訪上海巿政府, 並在週一出席主持商業博覽會開幕禮, 推廣澳中貿易發展及經濟合作。

在週二,阿爾巴尼斯抵達北京, 與習近平主席共晋午餐及其後進行會談。在會談中, 總理提及中國軍艦接近澳洲水域及澳洲公民楊桓均被拒留中國情況, 不過習近平表示中國海軍有權在這一個水域進行活動。而習近平並沒有主動提出在競選時阿爾巴尼斯要收回達爾文港的計劃, 算是給了總理面子。

不過, 在會見習近平之前, 澳洲多個媒體記者在獲取採取權之時, 仍遭中國公安阻止, 而總理阿爾巴尼斯卻顯得軟弱, 只表示不同國家管理媒體有不同的制度, 沒有向中方表達不滿。這也是為著保持到訪是兩國友善的活動。

在阿爾巴尼斯抵達上海時, 阿爾巴尼斯拒絕就美國要求澳洲表態在中美戰爭中, 是否加入行動, 只表示澳洲參戰會由當時國會作出決定, 可以見到阿爾巴尼斯試圖改變全面倒向與美國,在國家安全建立更緊密聯盟。

從特朗普在G7會議冷待阿爾巴尼斯,到在再次當選後, 總理就出訪中國, 可以見到這一屆政府, 在外交策略上, 或會有所改變。澳洲是否仍然維持與美國合作在太平洋地區保持現時狀況的基礎並與中國發展更深的貿易關係, 還是會改變接受中國在這地區的影響力, 現時還未清晰。

相信在總理結束中國訪問之時, 兩國若有其它更多的公佈, 或許我們會看出更多端倪。

周偉文, 社長

Possible Adjustment in Australia-China Relations 

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited China on July 12 (last Saturday) for a six-day trip. This is his second visit since November 2023. Albanese has returned to China within less than two years, prompting many to ask whether Australia is further adjusting its relationship with China.

Albanese arrived in Shanghai on Saturday. As during his last visit, he went for a morning jog along the Bund on Sunday, greeting the Chinese people and promoting tourism, cultural, and sports exchanges. He then visited the Shanghai Municipal Government and attended the opening ceremony of a business expo on Monday to promote Australia-China trade development and economic cooperation.

On Tuesday, Albanese arrived in Beijing where he had lunch and later held talks with President Xi Jinping. During the meeting, the Prime Minister raised concerns about Chinese naval ships approaching Australian waters and the case of Australian citizen Yang Hengjun being detained in China. However, Xi Jinping stated that the Chinese navy has the right to operate in those waters. Xi did not bring up the issue of Albanese’s election campaign promise to reclaim the lease of Darwin Port from Chinese control, which was seen as giving the Prime Minister some face.

However, prior to the meeting with Xi, several Australian journalists were prevented by Chinese police from exercising their reporting rights, and Albanese appeared weak in his response. He merely commented that different countries have different systems for managing the media, and did not express dissatisfaction to the Chinese side. This was likely in an effort to maintain the visit as a gesture of goodwill between the two nations.

When Albanese arrived in Shanghai, he also refused to respond to the U.S. request for Australia to take a position on whether it would participate in potential U.S.-China conflict, stating only that any decision on war involvement would be made by the Parliament at the time. This suggests that Albanese may be trying to shift away from a full alignment with the United States on national security matters.

From the cold reception Albanese received from Trump at the G7 meeting, to his visit to China shortly after being re-elected, it appears that this government may be shifting its foreign policy strategy. It remains unclear whether Australia will continue its current cooperative stance with the U.S. to maintain the status quo in the Pacific while deepening trade relations with China, or change course and accept China’s growing influence in the region.

We may gain more insight once the Prime Minister concludes his visit and further announcements are made by both countries.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher