On May 3, the Australian election came to a close, with the Labor Party led by Prime Minister Albanese surprisingly winning re-election, drawing significant international attention. The Chinese side quickly responded, with a Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressing congratulations and looking forward to working with the new Australian government to push the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.
The Re-Election of the Labor Party: Driven by Internal Policies and External Pressures
This January, the Labor Party was far behind the opposition conservative coalition in terms of public support. The road to re-election seemed full of thorns. Who could have imagined that just two months later, the situation would undergo a dramatic reversal. The key turning point was Trump's administration's introduction of a series of trade policies. Trump wielded the "tariff stick," and even Australia, a traditional ally, was not spared from being "harvested." Australian wine, beef, and other products suffered a heavy blow, with large amounts of agricultural products piling up, corporate profits declining, and many related industry workers facing unemployment crises, causing a sharp increase in the cost of living for the people.
Albanese, in this crisis, took a firm stance, clearly pointing out that America's tariff increase was "lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own feet," emphasizing that Australia would not succumb to American pressure but would firmly defend its national interests. He skillfully linked the Liberal Party with the Trump administration, pointing out that if the Liberal Party were to take office, it might lead Australia into greater economic and diplomatic difficulties. These remarks successfully resonated with the public, earning the Labor Party many votes. In contrast, the leader of the opposition coalition, Dutton, who had previously praised Trump, appeared particularly inappropriate in light of the tariff impact, leading to a sharp decline in public approval of him.
Of course, the Labor Party's own policies were also key factors in winning the election. During the campaign, the party introduced a series of welfare policies covering healthcare, housing, tax cuts, and other livelihood issues. For example, the promise to provide 100,000 low-down-payment new homes for first-time buyers greatly alleviated the pressure on young people buying homes; the tax cut policy allowed ordinary families to have more disposable income, truly improving people's quality of life. These policies earned the majority of voters' recognition.
Sino-Australian Relations: Warming Up, with Unprecedented Cooperation Opportunities
In the past, Sino-Australian relations have experienced ups and downs, but since Albanese's rise to power, active efforts have been made to repair bilateral relations, bringing them back on track. Now that the Labor Party has been re-elected, it undoubtedly provides strong momentum for further warming of relations between the two countries.
In the economic field, China has remained Australia's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and Australia surged to $244.8 billion, an increase of 1.9% year-on-year, setting a new record. Australia's high-quality resources such as iron ore, wool, and beef continue to flow into the Chinese market; while China's home appliances, mobile phones, new energy vehicles, and other industrial finished products have become popular choices in Australian households. Nowadays, among every 100 Australian households, 73 use Chinese brand smart appliances, and among every 3 new energy vehicles driving on Australian streets, 1 is from a Chinese brand. This deep complementary economic and trade relationship is becoming a powerful engine for cooperation between the two countries.
In terms of cultural exchange, a large number of Chinese students come to Australia each year for further studies, greatly benefiting Australia's education industry; at the same time, more and more Australians are showing great interest in Chinese culture, with the number of people coming to China for tourism and study increasing year by year. In the future, the two countries can further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as education, culture, and tourism, enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
The U.S.-Australia Relationship: New Variables in Traditional Ally Relations
Australia, as an important ally of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, has long cooperated closely in military and political fields. However, Trump's tariff policies have increasingly fueled dissatisfaction within Australia. This time, the re-election of the Labor Party, Albanese hinted in his victory speech that he would maintain a certain degree of independence in relations with the U.S., no longer blindly following America.
In military cooperation, although the U.S.-Australia military alliance relationship is unlikely to change in the short term, Australia may reconsider the depth and breadth of its military cooperation with the U.S. For example, regarding the issue of U.S. troops stationed in Australia, Australia may require the U.S. to bear more costs and have more say in military operation decisions. Politically, Australia may no longer follow the U.S. blindly in international affairs. For instance, in some international organizations, Australia may base its voting decisions on its own interests rather than blindly conforming to the U.S. position.
However, Australia is well aware of the importance of maintaining good relations with the U.S., as the U.S. remains strong in military and technological fields, even though its global hegemony is waning, it still remains a superpower. Therefore, in the future, Australia is likely to seek a difficult balance between its own interests, trade development, and traditional ally relations, formulating more pragmatic and flexible policies towards the U.S.
Although the Australian election has been settled, the changes in Sino-Australian and U.S.-Australian relations have just begun. In the future, we look forward to the continuous deepening of Sino-Australian relations through cooperation, bringing more benefits to the people of both countries; we also pay attention to how the adjustment of U.S.-Australian relations evolves, as these changes will profoundly influence the political and economic landscape of the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, which is worth our ongoing attention.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500711977413542434/
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