W.k.che Australia's China Policy Adjustment After The Cold War (1996-2012),

With the end of the cold war, the whole world was advancing towardsmulti-polarization, the Asia-pacific region growing multi-polarized as well. As twovital nations, China and Australia have their influence growing in this region due totheir continuously increasing economic strength. Since the two countries have closecontact in politics, economy and culture, Australia’s China policy not only affects thenormal development of Sino-Australia relations, but also plays an important role inmaintaining peace, stability and prosperity of Asia-pacific region and even the world.When Gillard took office, she adjusted the China policy of Kevin Rudd administrationto a relatively pragmatic one. No matter how the Australian government adjusts andchanges its China policy, however, the government always puts its national interest asthe first consideration.This thesis aims at summarizing the unchanged principle which the Australiangovernment abided by when adjusting its China policy, through analyzing the processof changing and adjusting its China policy after the cold war. The essay begins withnarrating Australia’s China policy during the cold war, then analyzing how theAustralian government redefined its policy towards China after the end of the coldwar. The key part of this paper introduces the content of China policy of Howard,Kevin Rudd and Gillard administration respectively, and then keeps focus on theanalysis of its main influence factors and generalization of its characteristics. Finally,the paper summarizes the principle, that is, on one hand, through strengthening theAustralian-American alliance, jointly contain the rise of China to realize its secureinterest; on the other hand, through making use of contacts and dialogues, furtherdeepen the Sino-Australia economic and trade cooperation to accomplish its economicinterest.