The Evolution Of Australia’s Policy Towards Taiwan After The Cold War(1990-2015)

In studies of Australia’s foreign policy,Taiwan is often overlooked.The Taiwan issue is absolutely a matter of China’s internal affairs.However,as one of the advanced economies in Asia,abiding by the strategic channel of the Western Pacific,Taiwan often occupies a seat in the discussion of political and security issues in the Asia Pacific region.Australia’s policy toward Taiwan is an important issue which should be systematically reviewed.Based on the introduction of the Australian new framework for its Taiwan policy in 1990,the research relies on the official records of Australia,spanning from 1990 to 2015 to examine the changes in Australia’s Taiwan policy after the Cold War.After a quarter-century transformation of the situation,Australia’s Taiwan policy,which is not an important policy issue in Australia,will become apparent.This is also the significance of the long-span research.In more than two decades,the Australian-Taiwanese policy can be roughly divided into three phases:First,1990-1995,marked by the culmination of political links between Australia and Taiwan.In 1990,the Australian authorities introduced the"black/grey/white typology " policy toward Taiwan,emphasizing the basic obligations of fulfilling its commitments to China while properly adopting gray area actions thus seeking the maximization of Australia’s interests in Taiwan.Keating’s government held the first ministerial-level officials’ visit to Taiwan and achieved a number of breakthroughs in the political area based on the continued development of economic and trade relations between Australia and Taiwan.2.From 1996 to 2006,the Australian-to-Taiwanese policy developed in a rational and pragmatic direction and achieved a turning point.Howard came to power in 1996 coincided with the outbreak of the Taiwan Strait crisis.Howard’s rash stance made people mistakenly believe that Australia’s Taiwan-related security position is completely based on the United States and stands opposite to China;with the recovering contacts between China and Australia,this bilateral relationship embarked on a rational and pragmatic track,and the relationship between Australia and Taiwan has also been cut in the context of the cooling of mutual political visits.The interpretation of ANZUS by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer during his visit to Beijing in 2004 shows that Australia has no intention of shouldering the obligation in the Taiwan Strait.Howard intended to limit the visits among high-level officials and to dilute political contacts with Taiwan.This contrasts with the "peak" of the previous period.3.From 2007 to 2015,Taiwan gradually faded out of sight of Australia’s foreign strategy.During Rudd,Gillard and Abbott’s administration,changes in the power structure brought about by China’s rise have become the biggest concern in the Asia-Pacific region’s order.Australia’s highly economic dependence on China and its growing international influence and shaping-order capacity have made Australia anxious.In the context of strategic anxiety,the space among Australia and Taiwan relations is almost completely squeezed owing to the Australia’s approaching to China.Behind the changes in Taiwan’s policy toward Taiwan,there are many involving factors.In the span of more than two decades,the influence of different factors has also been different.Changes in the international system and economic globalization have established Australia’s era background in Australia’s initiative to increase relations between Australia and Taiwan in the early 1990s.For Australia,which is a trade-building country,economic interests are the direct reason for its active approach to Taiwan.China is,of course,the most important factor influencing the Australia’s Taiwan policy.About 1992,the relatively harmonious cross-strait relation and Taiwan’s roughly equal economic partner status with the Mainland has contributed to the emergence of the "peak" of Australia-Taiwan relations;with the gradual emergence of rising momentum after the 21st century,China’s rapid economic growth and Australia’s economic dependence on China it is difficult to reproduce the situation in which it wants to adopt the "gray zone" initiative in its Taiwan policy and the ability and space for Australia’s interaction with Taiwan are increasingly limited.On the other hand,the United States also has an important influence on Taiwan’s policy towards Taiwan,especially its security and defense stance.Since the beginning of the ANZUS Treaty,Australia has begun to worry about being involved in an unnecessary security situation in the Taiwan Strait because of the asymmetry alliance.The Australian policy towards Taiwan for more than two decades has the following basic characteristics:First,it adheres to the "one China" policy and its policy towards Taiwan is usually subordinate to its policy towards Australia.Second,since Australia’s policy and contacts with Taiwan have generally shown a cooling trend since its peak in 1992,Taiwan’s importance in Australia’s foreign strategy has been declining.Third,Australia’s interests in Taiwan are mainly based on economic interests.Australia has always been extremely sensitive to the strategic dangers caused by the deterioration of Cross-Strait relations.Today,with the transformation of the Asian-Pacific power structure,the transfer of Sino-U.S.powers,and Australia’s reliance on China’s economy,the Australian government will be more cautious in responding to such possible crises.The Taiwan issue has always and will continue to affect Sino-Australia relations.