How China can gain after Trump muddies the waters with Australia
Australia is a long-time US ally, but the US president’s erratic behaviour is unsettling policymakers, increasing China’s chance to boost its influence in the resource-rich nation, say analysts
Australia is likely to tread an increasingly delicate path in balancing its relations with China and its traditional ally the United States amid sometimes erratic behaviour and unclear policy direction under US President Donald Trump, according to analysts.
This week when Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, who is setting off Wednesday for a week-long visit to Australia and New Zealand, he may expect a less dramatic conversation than the one he had with Trump.
Huge publicity was generated by a Washington Post report in January about an allegedly strained and bad tempered telephone call between Trump and Turnbull.
Trump was said to have complained about a refugee resettlement plan reached between the two countries during the Obama administration and later called the agreement “a dumb deal” in a tweet shortly after the call. Turnbull later said the phone call had worked in Australia’s favour and that the US would honour the refugee deal.
Trump’s attitude towards Canberra appears in stark contrast to his predecessor Barack Obama who regarded Australia as a key partner in advancing US influence in its pivot to the Asia-Pacific region.
Australia has over the years walked a fine line between maintaining its position as one of the United States’ staunchest supporters, while developing ties with China, its largest trading partner.