Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 26 June 2019 delivered his first major foreign policy speech since the election. Mr Morrison called for an active Australian foreign policy in a rapidly changing Indo-Pacific. He also reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to further enhancing its relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It is now imperative for the prime minister to home in on the specific challenges in this immensely consequential relationship with the PRC.

China Matters is pleased to publish A New China Narrative for Australia. Written as if it was an address by the Prime Minister of Australia, A New China Narrative for Australia provides a clear and comprehensible storyline that explains why Australia must engage deeply with the PRC, despite our likes and dislikes.

This new narrative sets out a framework to formulate foreign policy that protects and advances Australia’s interests.

The narrative is the outcome of a nationwide public debate and consultations with a diverse group of influential Australians from the public service, business and the university sector. Online comments were solicited for one month following the 26 March 2019 release of a draft of the narrative in Canberra. The final version of A New China Narrative for Australia incorporates comments made at the Canberra event as well as feedback from the public.

China Matters CEO and Founding Director, Ms Linda Jakobson is Principal Contributor to the Narrative; other contributors are China Matters board directors Prof Stephen FitzGerald AO, Prof Allan Gyngell AO, Mr Andrew Parker and Prof Michael Wesley, and China Matters Policy Analyst, Mr Jackson Kwok.

For the public comments sent to China Matters about the narrative, please click here.

For more information about the event in Canberra, please click here.