Observation
The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent political debate have only heightened the scrutiny of the relationship between Australia and China — and in particular, the economic interdependence between the two countries. In 2020, almost all Australians (94%) agree that the government should work ‘to find other markets for Australia to reduce our economic dependence on China’. This is the single largest point of agreement in the history of the Lowy Institute Poll. In 2019, 74% of Australians said Australia was too economically dependent on China. There is also considerable scepticism about other forms of cooperation between Australia and China. A majority of Australians (57%) say the government should restrict ‘joint scientific research between China and Australia in defence and security-related fields’.
Four in ten (39%) say that Chinese companies should be allowed to supply technology for critical infrastructure in Australia. In 2019, 44% said that protecting Australians from foreign state intrusion should be the first priority for government when considering whether foreign companies should be allowed to supply technology for critical infrastructure. Australians are also wary of military cooperation with China. A minority of Australians (39%) support ‘conducting joint military exercises with China and other countries’. Since 2015, Australian and Chinese military officers have both participated in Exercise Pandaroo. A sizeable eight in ten Australians (82%) would approve of the government ‘imposing travel and financial sanctions on Chinese officials associated with human rights abuses’, suggesting that there may be significant public support for the inquiry the Australian parliament commenced in late 2019 investigating the use of targeted sanctions to address human rights abuses. This aligns with views previously expressed about the human rights situation in China: in 2019, only 27% said Australia was doing enough to pressure China to improve human rights.
However, there are also areas where Australians support a cooperative relationship with China. More than half of Australians (59%) would support Australia ‘jointly funding aid projects with China in the Pacific and Asia’. In 2019, 73% of Australians said that Australia should try to prevent China from increasing its influence in the Pacific, and 55% said that China opening a military base in a Pacific Islands country would pose a critical threat to the vital interests of Australia.