The dynamic of political power in the Asia-Pacific is shifting to East Asia and the future prosperity and security of young Chinese and young Australians will to a significant degree rest upon how this power shift is best managed. No one can accurately gauge how long the transition will take – there are too many variables that are unpredictable. But it can be safely assumed that the rise of China and its corresponding impact on the Asia-Pacific regional order will span several generations.
From a Sino-Australian perspective, the interests of avoiding tensions and mitigating fears that may surround China’s rise will be served by deeper understanding between Chinese and Australian youth through increased cross-cultural dialogue amongst our nations’ future stakeholders and leaders.
The development of dialogue between the youth of both countries is an endeavour that deserves the support of both the Australian and Chinese governments, their respective private sectors – especially the resource and financial services sectors which have strong mutual interests in stable Sino-Australian relations – and leading academic institutions. The endeavour should be characterised by frank and robust exchanges.
China is now irrefutably a central player across the gamut of Asia-Pacific affairs. Yet China’s intentions and self-perception of its rightful place in the Asia-Pacific order remain unclear, even to Chinese leaders as they contest ideas internally. Building a relationship between China and Australia within which intentions and perceptions can be tested and honed is an important objective.
The scale of China’s rise and the economic opportunities generated from its growth, have naturally brought the Asia-Pacific closer into its orbit. At the same time, China’s rise is steadily – though not absolutely – wresting away the United States’ relative prestige and influence.
United States dominance in the Asia-Pacific order – which has underwritten stability and relative prosperity within the region since World War Two – is in question. What is China’s view of its place in the Asia-Pacific order? How will this translate into engagement with the region? Does China actively seek to undermine and challenge United States primacy? Does China aim to resurrect a neo-tributary state system, whereby China regains its assumed rightful place as the Middle Kingdom? Or does China seek to share responsibilities with the United States and other powers in a new regional and world order?
Australia depends upon its security alliance with the United States, whereas China has been Australia’s economic lynchpin over the past two decades. Since diplomatic relations were formally established between Australia and the People’s Republic of China under the Whitlam Labor Government in 1972 – note, seven years before the United States established diplomatic relations with China – year-on-year bilateral trade between Australia and China have expanded exponentially (two-way trade has grown from US$102 million in 1973 to US$70.3 billion in 2009).
China is now Australia’s largest single trading partner. Australians also understand how China’s insatiable appetite for Australian iron ore and other resources underwrote their country’s standout performance as the only OECD nation to avoid recession in the fallout from the global financial crisis. At the same time, Australia is a large and stable supplier of raw materials and energy to China that will underpin close interdependence for many years to come.
Australia’s long-term interests require understanding how Chinese are thinking about the core issues that will dictate the future prosperity and stability of the Asia–Pacific region. Core issues include but are not limited to: climate change; energy security; nuclear weapons proliferation; and transnational terrorism.
Engaging China intelligently is a top priority for future generations of Australian participants and stakeholders in Sino-Australian affairs in order to manage (or balance) simultaneously the United States security relationship with the Chinese economic relationship.
China’s long-term interests require that its next generation of participants and stakeholders in Sino-Australian affairs understand the perspectives of middle-power nations which are critical to China’s economic security, have close relations with the United States and deep interests in securing a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. For young Chinese, it is important to appreciate and understand the perspectives of Asia-Pacific nations apart from the United States. They share an equal stake with China in a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. Dialogue with young Australians can provide unique insights into the mix of challenges young Chinese and young Australians will need to overcome throughout this century.
The policy narrative between our two countries still lacks long-term strategic insight. Young minds can help craft a less ad-hoc, more sustainable approach to Sino-Australian relations.
As Stephen Fitzgerald, Australia’s first Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China observes, institutionalising dialogue provides a ‘vehicle for problem airing and the spin-off relationships that go with it’. Institutionalising dialogue among youth leaders from both countries can build associations that will matter to the leadership of our joint future, free of ignorance, fear and stereotype. Honest and forthright friendship through the Australia-China Youth Dialogue can deliver long-term tangible benefit to the Sino-Australian relationship, while mitigating anxieties that may surround China’s unprecedented rise in our region.
Henry Makeham is a founder and President of the Australia-China Youth Association.
This article was also published in the China Daily here.