15. Australia-China relations: The view from China - with Diane Hu

Over the last 12 months, the Australia-China relationship has faced significant challenges. Amidst discussion of China’s sharp power and debate over Chinese Communist Party and Chinese government influence in Australia, there have been suggestions that students from the People’s Republic of China represent a threat to academic freedom and freedom of expression. Some commentators have argued that the relationship is at a decade low. What do Chinese scholars think about recent tensions in the bilateral relationship? What are the possible short- and long-term effects? What can the Australian and Chinese governments do to alleviate these tensions? Diane Hu, Assistant Professor of Australian Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, joins James Laurenceson, Deputy Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney to provide a Chinese perspective on the current state of Australia-China relations.