Asymmetric relations and systemic misperceptions

Why and how Australia and China talk past each other

Bibliographic Data

ID6430686
AuthorsGuangyi Pan (0000-0002-8398-242X, UNSW Sydney, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume25
Issue1
Pages39-75
Publication date2024-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Relations of the Asia-Pacific (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1470-482X • E-ISSN: 1470-4838
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/irap/lcae009
OpenAlexW4403573322
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited51

Caught by conflicts, both Australia and China exhibited confused attitudes towards each other’s motives. For China, despite the common interests of strong economic and trade complementarities, Australia acts as a vassal state of the USA, campaigning against China for no reason. For Canberra, it has been frustrated by China’s ignorance of Australia’s independent position and concerns. This article explores the fundamental cause behind this misperception, arguing that asymmetric relationships lead two countries to put their attention on different levels, generating misinterpretations from both sides. As a great power, China concentrates on worldwide competition with the USA and prioritizes its global strategy while underplaying concerns of Australia. However, in Australia’s agenda, regional security and China’s expansion deepened its anxiety, so its over-attention spotlighted Beijing’s moves in a sensitive scenario. The asymmetry exacerbates each other’s threats. The article provides a systematic explanation of the China–Australia tension and clarifies the mechanism behind asymmetric relations

Beijing · China · Competition (biology · Development economics · Economics · Ignorance · Political economy · Political science · Position (finance · Commonwealth, Australian Politics and Federalism · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Island Studies and Pacific Affairs · Law

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