Editing Foreign relations of China (section)

=====Australia=====
{{main|Australia–China relations}}

As an emerging and developing economy, China is a very important trading partner and destination for Australian [[raw material]] export for the growth of Australian economy. The two countries are currently strengthening their economic relations. The 2007 election of [[Kevin Rudd]] as Prime Minister of Australia has been seen as favourable to Sino-Australian relations, notably since he is the first Australian Prime Minister to speak fluent Mandarin, and that closer engagement with Asia is one of the [[Kevin Rudd#Foreign affairs|"Three Pillars" of his foreign policy]].<ref>David S. G. Goodman, "Australia and the China threat: Managing ambiguity." ''Pacific Review'' 30.5 (2017): 769–782 https://doi.org/10.1080/09512748.2017.1339118 .</ref>

In 2004, Rudd, who at the time was Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, had delivered a speech in Beijing entitled "Australia and China: A Strong and Stable Partnership for the 21st Century".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050126165251/http://au.china-embassy.org/eng/zagx/t142076.htm "Australia and China: A Strong and Stable Partnership for the 21st Century"], Kevin Rudd, 6 July 2004</ref>

In February 2008, Australia reportedly "chastised Taiwan for its renewed push for independence" and "reiterated its support for a one-China policy".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.theage.com.au/national/china-australia-hold-strategic-meeting-20080205-1q43.html|title=China, Australia hold strategic meeting|author=O'Malley, Sandra|date=5 February 2008|work=[[The Age]]|access-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809181937/http://news.theage.com.au/national/china-australia-hold-strategic-meeting-20080205-1q43.html|archive-date=9 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, however, Rudd addressed Chinese students at [[Peking University]],<ref name="news.com.au_1111116026176">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/rudd-in-tough-tibet-talks/story-e6frfkp9-1111116026176|title=Rudd in tough Tibet talks|date=10 April 2008|work=[[News.com.au]]|access-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805050622/http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/rudd-in-tough-tibet-talks/story-e6frfkp9-1111116026176|archive-date=5 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> and, speaking in [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]], referred to "significant human rights problems in Tibet".<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3711490.ece "Australian PM Kevin Rudd warns China over human rights abuses in Tibet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709014617/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3711490.ece|date=9 July 2008}}, Jane Macartney, ''[[The Times]]'', 9 April 2008</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-aussie-rules-806956.html "Aussie Rules"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013173712/http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-aussie-rules-806956.html |date=13 October 2008 }}, ''The Independent'', 10 April 2008</ref> Rudd also raised the issue in talks with Chinese [[Premier of the People's Republic of China|Premier]] Wen Jiabao, in a context of "simmering diplomatic tension" according to [[TV3 (New Zealand)|TV3]].<ref>[http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/InternationalNews/KevinRuddraisesconcernsoverTibet/tabid/417/articleID/52122/cat/62/Default.aspx "Kevin Rudd raises concerns over Tibet"]{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, TV3, 10 April 2008</ref> In August 2008, Rudd met Wen once more, and expressed his concerns on "questions of human rights, of religious freedom, of Tibet, of internet freedom".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.theage.com.au/world/rudd-expresses-concerns-to-china-20080808-3sce.html|title=Rudd expresses concerns to China|author=Ede, Charisse|date=8 August 2008|work=[[The Age]]|access-date=11 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521022118/http://news.theage.com.au/world/rudd-expresses-concerns-to-china-20080808-3sce.html|archive-date=21 May 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated issues and tensions between the countries, especially after Australia called for an international, independent inquiry into the origins of the disease.<ref name="reut_Aust">{{Cite web|title=Australia and China spat over coronavirus inquiry deepens|last1=Duran|first1=Paulina|last2=Needham|first2=Kirsty|work=[[Reuters]]|date=18 May 2020|access-date=29 December 2020|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronarivus-australia/australia-and-china-spat-over-coronavirus-inquiry-deepens-idUSKBN22V083}}</ref><ref name="reut_Aust2">{{Cite web|title=Australia says world needs to know origins of COVID-19|last=Packham|first=Colin|work=[[Reuters]]|date=25 September 2020|access-date=29 December 2020|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-australia-china/australia-says-world-needs-to-know-origins-of-covid-19-idUSKCN26H00T}}</ref> The subsequent changes that China made to its trade policies have been interpreted as political retaliation and economic [[coercion]] against Australia.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-52562549|title=Coronavirus: China's new army of tough-talking diplomats|publisher=BBC News|date=12 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/china-relations-sour-over-tariff-threat-to-australian-barley-20200510-p54rjc.html|title=China relations sour over tariff threat to Australian barley|date=10 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="japa_Miti">{{Cite web|title=Mitigating China's economic coercion|last=Nagy|first=Stephen R.|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|date=21 May 2020|access-date=23 December 2020|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/05/21/commentary/mitigating-chinas-economic-coercion/|quote=economic coercion}}</ref><ref name="broo_Grea">{{Cite web|title=Great expectations: The unraveling of the Australia-China relationship|last=Kassam|first=Natasha|publisher=[[Brookings Institution]]|date=20 July 2020|access-date=23 December 2020|url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/great-expectations-the-unraveling-of-the-australia-china-relationship/|quote=economic coercion}}</ref>