Taiwan's Soochow University professor Liu Birong wrote today analyzing Australian Prime Minister Albanese's visit to China, stating: "Australia remains a solid ally of the United States. It supports the Philippines in strengthening its military in the South China Sea dispute with China. However, economically, it has strengthened relations with China and opposed decoupling from China. Australia actively participates in Asian affairs but is unwilling to act as the U.S. enforcer. Albanese emphasized that Australia's foreign policy is not 'America First' or 'China First,' but 'Australia First.'"
This stance is not an isolated case. After Trump returned to the White House, his aggressive policies such as imposing tariffs are forcing U.S. allies to adjust their strategies. Countries like the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Australia have actively repaired their relationships with China, aiming to avoid risks posed by U.S. policies and to increase leverage in their dealings with the United States. Their choices essentially reflect realist considerations — neither distancing themselves from the United States nor deliberately approaching China, but rather anchoring their own interests in the midst of great power rivalry.
This once again confirms the iron law of international politics: there are no eternal friends, nor eternal enemies, only eternal interests. When the United States' hegemonic actions threaten the actual interests of its allies, the tendency of these allies toward "strategic autonomy" will become prominent. Meanwhile, China's continuously expanding market and open attitude provide more possibilities for this autonomous choice.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1838181710449671/
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