Peter Dutton has branded China as Australia’s biggest security threat, while Anthony Albanese has stomped a careful tone, citing complex trade and regional ties.
Less than a week before the poll, China took part in the Australian election debate.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton called China the biggest threat to Australia’s national security during a final leader’s debate on April 27th.
“If I believe in the intelligence news that I have received as Minister of Defence and as an opposition leader, and I am sure the Prime Minister has received it the same way.
Facing his views on the subject, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held on a more diplomatic line.
“China is trying to increase its influence in the region,” he said, adding that its relationship with China is complicated as it is “our main trading partner.”
When repeatedly pressed to directly name China as the biggest threat, Albanese said, “I am the prime minister of the country and how you deal with it as prime minister is diplomatic and that’s what we’re continuing to do.”
Albanese cited the recent Papua New Guinea NRL trade as an important government step in dealing with the situation. Under this contract, Australia will provide $600 million over a decade to help establish the team.
Australia – China’s stability tested
The relationship between Australia and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was built on the melting that began after Albanese’s labor government took office in 2022, following careful stabilization in 2024.
A breakthrough occurred when Beijing lifted the trade ban on live rock lobsters and ended a key pillar of its previous economic enforcement campaign.
Anti-damping tariffs on Australian wine have also been removed, beef exports have resumed with the lifting of restrictions on two meat processors, and Canberra has ended anti-damping measures at Chinese sinks.
Travel links have also been improved, with Beijing expanding Australians’ visa-free access to Australians from the 15th to the 30th.
Diplomatic activities and high-level meetings resumed, Foreign Ministers Penny Wong and Wang Yi gave multiple speeches, Li Qian visited Australia and Treasurer Jim Chalmers traveled to Beijing.
However, tension lurked just below the surface. The verdict that Australian democratic writer Jan Jun died after two years of resignation was condemned by Canberra.
Australia’s intelligence agency warned of increased espionage and foreign interference, leading to the first local conviction under Foreign Interference Law.
Cybersecurity remains a battlefield, with Australia joining its allies in exposing CCP-related hacking operations.
Military tensions also flareed when Chinese fighter jets put flares at risk near the yellow sea Australian naval helicopter. Through it, CCP national media maintained propaganda of military ties with Orcas, Quad and Australia’s US.
Important years to come
A new analysis from the UTS’s Australia-China Relations Institute warns that the results of the Trump administration and Australia’s elections will have a major impact on the next chapter of Australia-China relations.
The economic war between the US and China could sharpen the Australian dilemma between its security alliance with Washington and its economic dependence on Beijing.
The report notes that the US-China tech war could encourage Australia to strengthen its management of key minerals and to participate in US-led supply chains.
Conversely, if Trump retreated from the green energy transition, it could ease pressure on Australia’s lithium exports to China.
Meanwhile, China’s increasing aggression in the South China Sea, and the possibility of US intervention, have allowed Canberra to be directly involved in conflict.
