At the G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 20-21, 2025, the leaders, in an environment where diplomatic solutions were discussed, emphasized mutual unity and solidarity in the face of global challenges, reaffirmed the positive course of bilateral relations, and highlighted the importance of maintaining the current situation. The comprehensive discussion of the strategic partnership in the meeting holds significance for the long-term diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
In this context, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. During the talks, Wang noted that under the strategic guidance of the two countries’ leaders, China-Australia relations had stabilized and regained momentum, a development warmly welcomed by various sectors in both countries. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stated that the healthy and stable path of bilateral relations serves the common interests of both sides and is in line with the shared aspirations of their peoples. He emphasized China’s willingness to work with Australia to build a more mature, stable, and efficient China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.[1]
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, while acknowledging the positive progress in China-Australia exchanges in various areas, emphasized that the full resumption of economic and trade ties is a strong signal. Wong has once again confirmed Australia’s commitment to the “One China” policy and its willingness to strengthen cooperation with China in areas of common national interest, uphold the rule of international law and strategic security, and jointly address global challenges.[2]
The recent positive development in China-Australia relations indicates that both countries, by taking into account geopolitical dynamics, have decided to follow more flexible and rational policies in economic and diplomatic areas, while safeguarding their mutual interests. In particular, resolving issues in bilateral trade relations within the framework of economic interdependence has played a key role in getting the relations back on track.
Australia is involved in military and security collaborations in the Indo-Pacific region, such as QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) and AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States Defense Pact). While this situation has caused tensions in relations with China, these tensions have remained within certain limits due to economic ties and the increasing diplomatic relations in recent times, and the competitive environment with Western powers in the Indo-Pacific region has remained at a manageable and controllable level.
The period from 2020 to 2022, which began with Australia launching an investigation against China over the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by China’s imposition of trade sanctions and Australia’s joining of QUAD and AUKUS in 2021, later transitioned into a period of normalization and the establishment of cooperation. The key figure in the beginning of this period was Anthony Albanese, who became Australia’s Prime Minister in 2022 and aimed to increase diplomatic dialogue with China. Subsequently, in addition to the easing of trade restrictions, the two countries also cooperated in areas such as climate change.
As of 2024, significant progress has been made in China-Australia relations. Although there have been occasional tensions in the military field, these have been addressed through diplomatic dialogue, leading to mutual agreement. In the coming periods, it is particularly important for bilateral relations to continue in a stable manner, especially for the Indo-Pacific region. This is because the relations between the two countries are most affected by tensions in this region, and they are forced to review the continuity of bilateral cooperation.
In the context of regional dynamics and geopolitical strategies, China-Australia relations will increase cooperation within the framework of balanced diplomatic dialogues, prevent potential tensions, and ensure the protection of mutual security interests. Indeed, despite military tensions over issues such as the Taiwan issue and the South China Sea disputes in the Indo-Pacific region, China and Australia have managed to control tensions by holding talks and keeping them within certain limits.
As a result, the China-Australia partnership plays a critical role in both the stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the maintenance of the balance of economic and security interests in the region. In this process, managing the dialogue between the parties at the diplomatic level through communication channels and adopting an independent foreign policy to ensure the independent development of alliances and economic relations will enhance the stability of the diplomatic dynamics in the region.
Australia’s participation in QUAD and AUKUS limits China’s influence in the region, but when considering the positive progress in economic relations, it does not create a direct competitive environment and maintains the regional power balance. Additionally, by diversifying its trade relations with India, Japan, and ASEAN countries, Australia is following a strategy to protect economic balances, not relying solely on its economic cooperation with China.
China, on the other hand, has focused its relations with Australia on economic ties in the Indo-Pacific region, thereby increasing its influence in the region and playing an active role in investment projects, particularly in the energy, mining, and construction sectors in Australia. Furthermore, through the relationships it has developed with Australia, China has ensured that Australia’s military alliance with the United States remains manageable and prevented Australia from taking a position on the opposite side while maintaining economic and diplomatic ties.
In 2025, China-Australia relations will continue their positive course based on economic cooperation, and a balance will be established where diplomatic dialogues can be conducted through soft power strategies, avoiding potential direct military conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite global dynamics, the positive attitude of the two countries will be influential in the stability of the region.
[1] “Return of China-Australia ties to heathy, stable track serves both sides’ common interests, Chinese FM tells Wong” Global Times,https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1328893.shtml, (Accessed: 22.02.2024).
[2] Ibid.
