Australia’s new PM Albanese has chance to mend fences with China, analysts say

Incoming Labor government unlikely to shift much on the big issues but might be less provocative towards Beijing, observers say

All eyes will be on Anthony Albanese on Tuesday when he meets the other leaders of the Quad

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Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese (centre) celebrates with his partner partner Jodie Haydon, (right) and Labor senate leader Penny Wong at a Labor Party event in Sydney on Sunday. Photo: AP

Published: 5:35pm, 22 May 2022Updated: 6:15pm, 22 May 2022

The change of power in Australia is a chance for the country’s new prime minister to improve ties with China and have a less “provocative” attitude towards Beijing, Chinese analysts said ahead of Anthony Albanese’s trip to Tokyo for a “Quad” meeting this week.

Albanese led his Australian Labor Party to victory in the country’s federal election on Saturday, ending almost four years of government under Liberal leader Scott Morrison, a period marked by some of the worst ties with China in decades.

A day after he is sworn in, Albanese’s first international appointment will be to meet the leaders of the United States, Japan and India – the countries that make up the strategic security dialogue known as the Quad – in Tokyo on Tuesday.

He will be accompanied by incoming foreign minister Penny Wong, who was born in Malaysia. Wong has said her Chinese-Malaysian background gives her a fundamental grasp of Southeast Asia.

The four countries will to unveil a maritime initiative aimed at curbing illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific, according to a US official, in the latest effort by the Quad to counter Chinese activity in the region.

Overall, the new Australian government is expected to continue the country’s tough stand on China, with Labor suggesting during the election campaign that there would be no major change on issues such as the South China Sea and Taiwan.