Opinion | What went wrong for China and Australia, and what will happen next?

The latest diplomatic spat over a controversial tweet shows how far bilateral relations between Beijing and Canberra have deteriorated

Australia has been increasingly vocal and hostile in its manner of hammering China, without regard for the feelings of its best customer for decades

Reading Time:5 minutes

The spat over a tweet came soon after the Chinese government imposed import curbs on a slew of Australian products over the last few months, including wine, barley, copper and coal. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:30am, 5 Dec 2020Updated: 2:11pm, 6 Dec 2020

In recent decades, China has often touted its relations with Australia as a sterling example of win-win bilateral ties. China is Australia’s largest and best customer, accounting for more than a third of all Australian exports ranging from iron ore to wine to milk powder, and this strong Chinese demand powered an economic boom down under. Australia is also one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists, students, immigrants and rich investors seeking business opportunities.

It is also a favourite stop for Chinese leaders. Xi Jinping has visited Australia five times – the first trip was in 1988 when he was a local official in Fujian and the last was in November 2014 as president, when he fulfilled his wish of visiting all six Australian states. During his last visit, Xi and Tony Abbott, the prime minister at the time, agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” and announced the conclusion of negotiations on a landmark free trade agreement.

As Xi put it then, China and Australia could become mutually trusted “sincere partners” as they had neither historical grievances nor conflicting fundamental interests.

How times have changed. Over the past three years, the two countries have gradually but surely become bitter adversaries, sparring over trade and investment, perceived Chinese influence in Australian politics, Canberra’s criticism of Beijing for its behaviour and practices, and now over a tweet by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman.

What has gone wrong? Why does China particularly target Australia with unusual wrath at a time when it is faced with strong backlash from Western countries?

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