written policy memo provide a brief assessment on the current state of Australian-Sino relations, and to recommend a particular course of action on how Australia should best engage with China." its al

Memorandum

To: Australian Prime Minister (Scott Morrison)

From: A senior policy adviser in the Department of The Prime Minister and Cabinet

RE: Australia’s policy on China

Date: 21/08/2020

Background:

Dear PM

As you are aware of the current situation, the COVID 19 has impacted too many businesses, people and our relationship with China. The bilateral relationship between Australia and China is among our strongest economic and trade policies to Australian interests. China has been our best and largest trading partner since 1972. Australia and China have different laws and nations, but both countries have benefited from exports and imports of products and services, and the rapid growth of Chinese investments in Australia has ploughed billions of dollars to the Australian economy. China is remaining our largest partner in the export market, especially in education more than 200,000 students from China studies in Australia and the one million visitors each year which contributed to the economic growth.

But according to the Australian-Sino diplomatic relations, Australia's relationship with China is not at the best level, and it has been the worst since the agreement between Canberra and Beijing in the 1970s. The tensions between the two countries have risen to their worst, China has warned Chinese students and tourists to not travel to Australia, and also, they have suspended most of the imports from Australia. This action came after Canberra urged Chinese authorities to give answers to the Australian government about the origin of COVID-19. In 2020, the Chinese investment in Australia has fallen to almost 60 per cent which makes it the first nation to lose its ties with China. As well as Canberra's decision to ban Chinese 5G network in Australia has led China disappointment with the Australian government. For many years China has been our biggest trading partner and contributed billions to the Australian economy. Also, Australia's economic dependence on China is bigger than many other states. But the recent strain between the two nations has angered Chinese citizens and the Chinese ambassador proposed a stated if the Australian government pushed for more investigation onto the origin of COVID-19, the Chinese public may boycott Australian goods.

Recommendation:

Coronavirus has affected the global market, if Australia and China keep experiencing more tensions, it may impact the growth of the Australian economy. China relies heavily on Australian services such as iron ore and food and Australia too relies on Chinese investments. For better economic security and wealth for the Australian government. Australia must re-engage with China in a calm conversation and come up with a deal for greater relation. Australia can develop a relationship with China again and build sectors of partnership to work together on problems such as trade, climate change and disaster management. Much of Australian businesses have lost their relationship with China because of the recent tensions, this has led to economic issues and the rise of unemployment in Australia. According to Chris Kelly, is an Australian farmer who produces foods and most of them are been sold to China. For example, in 2019, ''Australia produced more than 80 million of the golden grain used in beer and pig feed and China bought more than half of them at good price''. Therefore, the best way for Australia to re-engage with China is to act in a positive strategy. We can use Japan as an example when China was in a very difficult situation and in the middle of the pandemic, Japan provided a help-hand to China like personal protective equipment (masks), hand-sanitizers and other items and the Chinses people were very happy about it, this made their ties even stronger. Australia can do the same way in providing aid to China, as they have seen the worst floods in decades, Australia has plenty of experiences in managing floods from 2011 Queensland floods. Australia cam offer essential types of equipment to manage the floods it will be presented as a gesture of goodwill and to make a great impression in the relationship with China. While Australia has a strong and settles relations with the US for its own security.

Also, cooperating with China or having the relationship back to a stable point Australia can develop economic prosperity through trade and economic relation. The Australian government must act in a calm, measured and also strategic way and to not worse our ties with China. A 2019 global times survey showed ''Australia is the most desirable place to study for Chinese students'', which has a huge contribution to the growth of the Australian economy. China is the second most powerful country after the US in the economy, having strong ties with both countries can develop our economy and create more jobs for Australians. Canberra should not intervene in the Hong Kong issue as we have our own policies and them too, or we will have more obstacles in doing businesses with Chinese people. Australia needs to take tensions with China in a serious way like providing aid and peace conversation with Chinese government can save thousands of jobs, farmers in regional areas, and industries that mostly relies on Chinese trade. China now faces the most challenging times in its history, there are so much of pressure from many states around the world into COVID-19 investigation. As Australians, we could be better by lending our support and help to the Chinese people during difficult times such as climate change, and by doing this we can save a lot of Australians businesses that relies on China, economic prosperity, and most importantly our relationship with China will be more broaden. Australia now needs to make its own decisions and not listen to any other states such as the US, also, the Australian government should not intervene in Australians business when they are selling goods to China. Businesses should have the right and the obligations to who they sell their products. China has been our biggest trading partner even more than the US, Japan, India and Indonesia combined.