10 - China

Summary

Relations between Australia and China, essentially frozen since 1950 when China’s intervention in the Korean War prevented the Menzies Government from proceeding with any plans it might have had for recognising the Chinese People’s Republic, began to alter in 1970, and by the end of 1972 diplomatic exchanges had taken place and each country’s Government was preparing to send an ambassador to the other’s capital. Recognition took place against a background of rapid changes in the international environment and with other states establishing diplomatic relations with China, but was due in greater part to a change of government in Canberra in 1972. Thereafter, the relationship has been maintained and even extended, so that China has become a point of reference in the formulation of Australian foreign policy. Even so, rather less has flowed from the relationship since formal recognition than might have been expected, given the prominence the China question had assumed over the past 20 years.