Su-Lin Tan

As I see it | Australia can do better with China, Asia ties in this milestone year

Canberra needs to show genuine interest in Asia-Pacific in 2022, a watershed year that marks a half-century since the establishment of China-Australia relations

Australia must meet aspirations set out in a groundbreaking 2012 white paper to become part of the Asian century and its transformative economic growth

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China and Australia flags flying together. Photo: Shutterstock

Su-Lin Tan

Published: 4:00am, 15 Apr 2022Updated: 8:31am, 15 Apr 2022

Australia is having a big year. It is not just a critical election year – one that would test the incumbent conservative government – but also the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia diplomatic relations.

It’s also been 10 years since a monumental white paper titled “Australia in the Asian Century” was put out by then-PM Julia Gillard’s government. The white paper was considered groundbreaking at the time, and regarded as the blueprint by which Australia would become part of Asia’s transformative economic growth.

There was excitement all round. The Australian embassy in Beijing had a webpage dedicated to the white paper and think tanks pored over it. It espoused more engagement between Australia and its Asian neighbours including China, and highlighted the economic and cultural benefits in stronger ties with countries like India, Japan and Vietnam.

Australia would not just be financially richer but culturally wealthier, the paper said, suggesting more Asian languages be taught in Australian schools to aid better cultural understanding.

Unfortunately, what the white paper recommended has not come to pass. There has been a decline in the variety of Asian languages being taught in Australian schools and universities. Research by the Asian Studies Association of Australia has revealed some Australians find languages like Mandarin “too foreign”.

China’s assertiveness in the region and “anti-China” language by Australian officials have fuelled discrimination against Asians; there have been cases where Mandarin phrases like ni hao (how are you?) have been used to heckle people of Asian or Chinese descent on the street.

Flags of China and Australia painted on cracked wall demonstrate the fractured relationship between the nations. Photo: Shutterstock

Asian-Australians, who make up 13 to 14 per cent of the population, have felt increasingly pressured to distance themselves from China – even those who are ethnic Chinese but are not from the mainland.