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After Canada, Trump could drag down conservatives in another election in Australia

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · May 5

"We just can’t go all in on AUKUS, all in on the United States, all in on containing China and imagine that our trade with China, which is paying for our submarines, can actually be sustained. It can’t," @j-laurenceson.bsky.social tells @nbcnews.com bit.ly/4iOIwSy

The Opposition Coalition was poised to return to power before Trump’s inauguration, but has lost support among voters worried about how their government will handle him.

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · May 1

ABC Vote Compass data on voters' views on Australia-PRC relations is analysed by @j-laurenceson.bsky.social and discussed in the context of 2024 UTS:ACRI/BIDA Poll findings by @elenacollinson.bsky.social and Paul Burke - via @abcnewsnetau.bsky.social bit.ly/3YqC7Wu

Trump's tariffs and China's trade: What's next?

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 29

The implications of the ongoing trade war for the PRC's economy, global supply chains and the broader region are explored by @j-laurenceson.bsky.social, Dan Wang @eurasiagroup.net and Bert Hofman, former World Bank Country Director, China in a Griffith Asia Institute webinar.

Watch: bit.ly/42T8dLO

As US–China trade tensions escalate with tariffs exceeding 100%, this timely webinar explores the implications of ongoing trade wars for China’s economy, global supply chains, and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Hosted by the Griffith Asia Institute, the discussion brings together a panel of renowned experts to unpack China’s strategic responses, potential trade spillovers into neighbouring countries, and what this all means for regional partners like Australia. Speakers include: Dan Wang – China Director, Eurasia Group Bert Hofman – Former Director, East Asia Institute (NUS) & former World Bank Country Director, China James Laurenceson – Director, Australia-China Relations Institute (UTS) Moderator: Professor Christoph Nedopil Wang, Director, Griffith Asia Institute

ACBC WA Hosts: Great Game On

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 28

For our Perth-based followers: @j-laurenceson.bsky.social will join former Ambassador Geoff Raby and Gordon Flake @perthusasia.bsky.social to discuss 'What does great power competition in today’s world mean for Australia?'. May 7, 12-2.30pm AWST, Ritz Carlton, Perth

Tickets: bit.ly/44KNCMd

What does Great Power competition in today’s world mean for Australia?

Australia ‘oversimplifies’ China research collaboration risks

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 23

"Australian universities 'underweighted' appreciation of security threats has given way to a simplistic 'culture of caution'... a forthcoming book chapter argues"

@timeshighered.bsky.social reports on a soon-to-be-published paper by @j-laurenceson.bsky.social bit.ly/3RqNt94

National security U-turn ‘cutting Australia off from knowledge creation frontier’ just as US turns its back on collaboration

If China had done this, there would have been uniform outrage

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 23

Following reports that countries wanting US tariff relief will be pressured to curb their trade with the PRC, @j-laurenceson.bsky.social examines the question 'Should Australia line up with the US and form an anti-China economic bloc?' in @canberratimes.bsky.social bit.ly/4lHehzN

Australia's political leaders must do better.

‘Alarmist nonsense’: Labor and Coalition dismissed security risks over the Port of Darwin for years. What’s changed?

James Laurenceson @j-laurenceson.bsky.social · Apr 10

Both sides of Australian politics have committed to spiking Chinese ownership of the lease to operate Darwin Port. Media reports frequently cite "defence experts" who claim its necessary to protect national security. But is it true? 👇 theconversation.com/alarmist-non...

Successive governments have reviewed the deal to lease the port to a Chinese company and found no cause for concern. Both major parties have made a sudden about-face.

theconversation.com

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 10

Recordings are now available for 'ChAFTA: Assessing outcomes a decade on', featuring Trade Minister Don Farrell, former Trade Ministers Andrew Robb and Craig Emerson, columnist Glenda Korporaal, PRC Min-Counsellor Gao Feng, and @j-laurenceson.bsky.social

Video: bit.ly/42k1bzy
Audio: bit.ly/4crRDXW

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Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 7

ANALYSIS | ChAFTA: An Australian assessment of core outcomes a decade on

With ChAFTA now a decade in operation, @j-laurenceson.bsky.social provides an Australian assessment of core outcomes against a backdrop of claims by advocates and critics of the deal bit.ly/3RCdbHE

How Trump's tariffs could backfire and embolden China

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 4

On suggestions that US tariffs may spur on tech and AI development in the PRC, "[T]his 'spurring' is already locked in," @j-laurenceson.bsky.social tells @capitalbrief.com bit.ly/3RD3CrO

Trump’s sweeping new tariffs aim to protect US industry. But experts warn they could accelerate China’s economic rise and reshape global trade dynamics.

Ambiguous alignment: Australia navigating US–China rivalry in the post-AUKUS era - China International Strategy Review

James Laurenceson @j-laurenceson.bsky.social · Apr 3

On US tariffs, pleased to offer some comments from an Australian perspective to James Curran at AFR. The moves "hasten the US path towards economic irrelevance in Australia’s region". And surely no-one buys "friend-shoring" anymore? afr.com/policy/forei...

James Laurenceson @j-laurenceson.bsky.social · Apr 3

The US turn against Australia and the Asia-Pacific is about far more than tariffs. Now threatening the academic freedom of American and Australian researchers, the Q must be asked whether agreements with US institutions will now require notifying Canberra. timeshighereducation.com/news/confuci...

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Apr 2

'Ambiguous alignment: Australia navigating US-China rivalry in the post-AUKUS era'

@j-laurenceson.bsky.social makes the case that post-AUKUS, Australia has not comprehensively abandoned its hedging strategy in China International Strategy Review. Open access: bit.ly/44esjSW

As Great Power rivalry in the Asia–Pacific has intensified, Australia has widely come to be seen as a prototypical Balancer. By lending its modest weight in support of its long-time security ally, the...

Australia balances between realism and liberalism

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Mar 28

"While AU has shifted towards a more realist approach in military matters...its economic strategy continues to reflect a strong attachment to liberalism...This is evident in AU’s handling of past CN economic coercion" - @j-laurenceson.bsky.social in @eastasiaforum.bsky.social bit.ly/3RnmHhF

Australia’s foreign policy is navigating the balance between realist security partnerships and a steadfast commitment to liberal economic principles.

Ambiguous alignment: Australia navigating US–China rivalry in the post-AUKUS era

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Mar 28

APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON | China Matters-UTS:ACRI Fellowship 2025-2026

The Fellowship is an opportunity for an Australian early-career researcher in the field of China Studies, examining issues of policy relevance for Australia. Apply now: bit.ly/3DKfyVJ

James Laurenceson @j-laurenceson.bsky.social · Mar 27

Australia has widely come to be seen as a prototypical IR Balancer against China, having abandoned its hedging strategy around 2017. I don't think that's right. Pleased to share my latest peer-reviewed article in China International Strategy Review. 👇
rdcu.be/efoX7

rdcu.be

James Laurenceson @j-laurenceson.bsky.social · Mar 27

There’s a common line that Australia always just follows the US. I hear this particularly often in China. In fact, Australia’s foreign policy is much more sophisticated than that. New in East Asia Forum👇
eastasiaforum.org/2025/03/27/a...

Australia balances between realism and liberalism

Australia’s foreign policy is navigating the balance between realist security partnerships and a steadfast commitment to liberal economic principles.

eastasiaforum.org

Friendly fire hits Australian universities

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Elena Collinson @elenacollinson.bsky.social · Mar 27

As we near 10 yrs since ChAFTA's signing, join @acri-uts.bsky.social & the ACBC to hear from Trade Minister Don Farrell and former trade ministers Robb & Emerson, w/ mod Glenda Korporaal. @j-laurenceson.bsky.social will also present the findings of a forthcoming analysis of the deal bit.ly/4j3ynSD

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James Laurenceson @j-laurenceson.bsky.social · Mar 25

"The government and the opposition are largely mute on the threat of such blatant “foreign interference” in Australian university research efforts despite their regular admonitions against any such behaviour from China". Even more so the broader USA 啦啦隊... www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Local universities are caught up in Donald Trump’s culture wars. But the threat is partly home-grown and self-inflicted.

www.afr.com

Reposted by James Laurenceson

Australia-China Relations Institute, UTS @acri-uts.bsky.social · Mar 14

On Australian industries benefiting from the PRC's trade hits on the US and Canada, "This has got nothing to do with morals or geopolitical sympathies. It’s just business," @j-laurenceson.bsky.social tells the Australian bit.ly/4bO0bYE