Prime Minister Anthony Albanese departs for his second trip to China, facing a delicate balancing act as he seeks to strengthen economic ties while navigating the shadow of Donald Trump and uncertainty over the AUKUS submarine deal. The multibillion-dollar US submarine agreement, spurred by China's military buildup, is under review by the US defence department, with reports suggesting it could be a bargaining chip for a future Trump administration.
Albanese will lead a business delegation to Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu for a six-day trip starting Saturday. His itinerary includes the Australia-China annual leaders' meeting, a visit to a Shanghai soccer club, and a tour of Trip.com headquarters. He is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, though it remains unclear if Li will repeat his 2023 remark calling Albanese 'a handsome boy coming from Australia'.
Two-way trade between Australia and China reached nearly $312 billion in 2024, making China Australia's largest trading partner. The government highlights Albanese's success in removing $20 billion in trade barriers and boosting exports of barley, lobster, and beef. The business delegation, led by the Business Council of Australia, includes executives from ANZ, Macquarie, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, BHP, BlueScope, Monash University, and UNSW. A CEO roundtable in Beijing, hosted by the China Development Bank, will focus on green metals, research, education, finance, and clean energy.
However, advancing Australia's security interests presents a challenge. The Coalition has urged Albanese to raise the Chinese naval taskforce circumnavigation of Australia and advocate for detained academic Yang Hengjun. Human Rights Watch called on the prime minister to address abuses in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a speech in Malaysia, noted the 'worrying pace of China's nuclear and conventional military buildup' while praising China's role in solving global challenges. Albanese defended Wong's remarks, stating she is doing 'a fantastic job'.
Albanese's visit will be closely watched in Washington. Conservative criticism over the lack of a meeting with Trump is unlikely to abate, but Albanese must maintain strong ties with the US while pursuing closer relations with China. Labor Senator Raff Ciccone, chair of the parliament's security committee, emphasized the need for careful diplomacy.
