Letters | A Trump administration of China hawks makes diplomacy vital

Readers discuss rising US-China tensions, Hong Kong’s push to help older adults keep up with technology, and air connections to mainland cities

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Outgoing US President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Lima, Peru, on November 16. Photo: Reuters

Published: 11:30am, 27 Nov 2024

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It was no surprise to read in your paper of China’s stern warning to the new Trump administration in America, delivered to outgoing President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Lima, Peru (“Xi’s warning to Biden contains message for Trump: don’t seek regime change in China”, November 19).

While the shock of Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election sinks in, the world remains on tenterhooks to see what the fallout will be. As your article warns, the early signs for future US-China relations are ominous as Trump assembles a “cabinet of China hawks”. If he does, indeed, set out to implement the extreme rhetoric of his campaign rantings, serious trouble lies ahead.

We in Australia have joined the scramble to welcome this unstable leader out of fear of what not doing so would mean. But our welcoming remarks to the new Trump administration are tempered by a belief that, while we value our long-standing close relationship with America, it will not automatically be “all the way with the US” under the new US administration. We will continue to be mindful of our national interest.

While signalling its continued adherence to the US alliance, Australia is maintaining its objective of continuing to improve its relationship with China as well. Wisely, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as much while he was at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting in Lima, Peru.

Australia will adhere strongly to its policy of cooperating with China where it can, disagreeing with it where it must, and at all times in line with Australia’s national interest. It’s a stance that has been warmly received in the China Daily and this, while it irritates the hawks in Australia, is to be welcomed as a promising sign of improving relations.