Australia’s Albanese Heads to China as Trump Stresses Alliance
Bloomberg1 day
Australia's Albanese Confirms Visit to China
Above: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the 2022 G20 summit on Nov. 15, 2022. Image copyright: James Brickwood/Sydney Morning Herald/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
A healthy relationship with China is essential for a strong and prosperous Australia. As it stands, China accounts for nearly a third of Australia’s total trade and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The prime minister’s visit, therefore, champions Australia’s interests by furthering cooperation with China while bringing Australian concerns to the fore.
Pro-establishment narrative
While Albanese’s reset of Australia’s relationship with China is a major achievement, he must now turn his attention to the United States. The U.S. may not be Australia’s largest trading partner, but it is its most important strategic ally. Given the Trump administration’s review of AUKUS and its trade policy, Albanese must apply the same diplomatic skills with the U.S. as he did with China.