China-Australia relations have a powerful impact on the situation in the Asia-Pacific
The coronavirus pandemic has become a kind of border in relations between China and Australia, having suddenly exposed their contradictions, which the long-term partners had always tried not advertize. For a long time, their relationship had been more or less unproblematic, especially in economic sphere. But lately, despite positive economic contacts, relations between the two countries have deteriorated.
Canberra’s anti-Chinese stance may give international partners the impression that Australia is not acting as an independent state, but as a conductor of America’s interests. At the same time, the interests of Australia and the United States in the Asia-Pacific region are different. For better or worse, Australia’s future will be closely tied to both, China and the United States.
It is not so easy for the Australian leadership to get out of this situation at the moment. So far, any further step in bilateral relations can only exacerbate this situation, especially given the possible reaction and geopolitical interests of China and the United States.
The article is available in Ukrainian
