China’s new ambassador to Australia, Liu Jinsong, used an early public bus journey to Canberra to project accessibility while also stressing Beijing’s expectations of “mutual respect”. The article argues that this language signals China’s demand that Australia avoid challenging matters Beijing treats as non-negotiable, particularly Taiwan, while raising questions about whether China would offer Australia the same latitude.

It says the Albanese government has secured the removal of Chinese trade barriers affecting about $20 billion in Australian exports without abandoning AUKUS or foreign-interference laws. The author contends that Australia must balance trade with China, its largest trading partner, against sovereignty concerns, including defence policy and control of critical infrastructure, amid uncertainty over US policy under Donald Trump.