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Almost 90 percent of Australians do not trust China, as a leading Australian think tank expert revealed in a foreign policy speech.
Michael Fullilove AM, Secretary-General of the Lowy Institute, spoke at the National Press Club on June 22 about the foreign policy and security challenges facing the new Australian government.
Fullilove Share in his speech A 2022 poll released by the Institute next week shows that only one in ten Australians trusts China.
“Only 12% of Australians trust China, which is more than half of Australians, down 40 points from four years ago when 52% trusted China,” he said.
“9 in 10 Australians believe that an alliance with the United States is important to our security, but only 1 in 10 Australians trust China.”
Fullilove believes that the loss of Australian confidence in China is due to the change in communist nations that the federal government is dealing with “different China.”
“The foreign policy has solidified and is no longer willing to accept criticism,” he said.
Beijing aims to expand its influence in the Pacific
Meanwhile, more Australians believe Beijing poses a military threat to Australia.
“Almost half of Australians believe that China is likely to pose a military threat to Australia over the next 20 years, an increase of 7 points from last year,” said Fullilove. I am.
Data exposure comes after Australia has been the recipient of increasingly aggressive behavior by China. On May 26, a Chinese military aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian aircraft in international airspace. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused the case of “aggression and danger.”
At the same time, more than a month after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited eight island nations in the South Pacific for 10 days to establish a security agreement. did. ..
Strengthening Australia-US Alliance
In response to CCP’s recent actions in the Pacific, Fullilove said Australia needs to strengthen its long-term alliance with the United States and take a firm position on Beijing.
“The United States is the world’s leading country and the only country that can project military power anywhere on the planet. Our line with Washington is overwhelmingly in our national interest,” he said. rice field.
“The argument that the alliance should be downgraded to please China is wrong.”
Meanwhile, Fullilove also said Australia “should certainly talk to China” and argued for a “stable and productive” relationship with Beijing.
“The Australian government should be solid, cautious and disciplined,” he said.
“We need to work with China when possible, disagree when necessary, and maintain our position at all times.”
The edited speech draft is Release You can find it on the Lowy Institute website.
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