By Anthony and Ozan 2010

 The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Australia in the 1800’s following a mining boom in Ballarat, Victoria  We started the relationship with China when Gough Whitlam became the first Australian Prime Minister to visit China back on December 21 st 1972 via the Joint Communiqué  Australia recognises China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity including in relation to Tibet, Xinjang and Taiwan  Both agreed that they were strong together economically as they could benefit each other complementarily. Together, their GDP is greater than USD$5 trillion.  Strong believers in multilateral organisations (eg United Nations, G20, APEC, ASEAN, the Asia Pacific Forum) and other multilateral mechanisms in responding to the financial crisis, addressing climate change, controlling communication.

 The previous Howard Coalition government was reluctant to pursue diplomatic ties with China. Howard instead pursued/maintained a greater interest and relationship the United States – dubbing Australia as America’s deputy in the Asia-Pacific region.  E.g.: John Howard received the Dalai Lama despite Chinese opposition/protests

 Kevin Rudd’s position on Chinese relations was considerable warmer than that of the Howard Government, particularly because he was a former diplomat appointed to China, and could speak fluent Mandarin.  He regarded the relationship with the Asia-Pacific as central to his ‘Three Pillars’ of the foreign politics of the Rudd Government  In 2008, Australia criticised Taiwan for its repeated push for independence.  His relationship enabled greater opportunities for investments in the Australian economy.  The Rudd Government remained strangely silent on the Stern Hu affair, with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith calling Hu’s sentence ‘harsh’.  Former Attorney-General Joel Fitzgibbon was forced to resign after successful businesswomen Helen Liu funded trips for him to China twice; once in 2002, another time in 2005 – both before he was in government.

 Banned Chinese film showed at the 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival Banned Chinese film showed at the 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival

 Negotiations for an Australia-China Free Trade Agreement  Fourteenth round of negotiation in February 2010 – since 2005!!  Australia-China Nuclear Material Transfer Agreement and Nuclear Cooperation Agreement  Cooperation in Peaceful of Uses of Nuclear Energy Agreement

 Rio Tinto Stern Hu detention in China after being accused of selling state secrets in  Former Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon getting kickbacks off Helen Liu, and paid trips to China  Kevin Rudd relationship with China

Hu Jintao

 Mining royalties  70% of resources get exported to China  China buys lots of resources off Australia – including coal and uranium  Economic benefits  Large Chinese investment in Australian interests  Bringing money into the Australian economy; their investment into our resources is attributed as being one of the factors that prevented Australia from going into recession during the Global Financial Crisis.

7 May 2010 ‘Then-Deputy Prime Minister meets with the Chinese Vice Premier’

The Purples