Australia’s Relations with China: The Illusion of Choice, 1972-2022

Drawing on a wealth of interviews with more than fifty key stakeholders from Australia and China, including five former Australian Prime Ministers, Fitzsimmons presents a history and analysis of Australian-Chinese relations since 1972.

Fitzsimmons systematically examines how Canberra formulates and implements Australia’s China policy, and how PMs and key influencers have made that policy over the last fifty years. Next, it analyses the style, manner and effectiveness of Australian Prime Ministers and other key foreign-policy makers in making Australian policy on China. Next, it charts how Australian policy on China has changed over different political periods. It also highlights Australian policy to China as a global case study for other countries who are closely examining and learning lessons from how one Asia-Pacific middle-power has dealt with the Chinese colossus.

An essential guide for students of Australia’s international relations, as well as for scholars of international relations more broadly.