Research On The Shift Of Australia’s Policy Towards China Since 2017

Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia in 1972,with the joint efforts of people from all walks of life in both countries,the economic and trade relations between the two countries have become increasingly close,and the bilateral relations have continued to develop well.However,since mid-2017,Australia’s policy towards China has undergone a negative shift,mainly manifested in its domestic political conservatism and aggressive foreign policy towards China.This phenomenon is puzzling,which raises the question of why Australia’s policy towards China will have a significant negative turn in the context of China clearly not posing a security threat to Australia and the increasingly close trade relationship between China and Australia.This article believes that there are three main reasons for the shift in Australia’s policy towards China after 2017.Firstly,there is pressure from the United States.The Trump administration of the United States has exerted stronger pressure on Australia through military security alliances and economic and trade relations,forcing Australia to maintain closer proximity to the United States in areas such as military security and economic exchanges;Secondly,Australia has a "path dependence" in its national security concept.Australia has always sought the support of military security allies and regarded the South Pacific region as its own sphere of influence.However,the rise of China and the growth of its influence in the South Pacific region have changed Australia’s perception of China’s security;Finally,the intensification of domestic political struggles in Australia has intensified the politicization of China related issues,incorporating many issues that were not originally part of the security field into the security field.The shift in Australia’s policy towards China has had many impacts.This article uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process to focus on the impact of this phenomenon on China and Australia,as well as its impact on regional stability in the Indo Pacific region.This article believes that according to the current development trend,there is still uncertainty in Australia’s policy shift towards China,but we still have positive expectations for this and see that there is still room for a positive shift in China Australia relations.