1. By Anthony and Ozan 2010

2.  The first Chinese immigrants arrived in Australia in the 1800’s following a mining boom in Ballarat, Victoria  We started the relationship with China when Gough Whitlam became the first Australian Prime Minister to visit China back on December 21 st 1972 via the Joint Communiqué  Australia recognises China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity including in relation to Tibet, Xinjang and Taiwan  Both agreed that they were strong together economically as they could benefit each other complementarily. Together, their GDP is greater than USD$5 trillion.  Strong believers in multilateral organisations (eg United Nations, G20, APEC, ASEAN, the Asia Pacific Forum) and other multilateral mechanisms in responding to the financial crisis, addressing climate change, controlling communication.

3.  The previous Howard Coalition government was reluctant to pursue diplomatic ties with China. Howard instead pursued/maintained a greater interest and relationship the United States – dubbing Australia as America’s deputy in the Asia-Pacific region.  E.g.: John Howard received the Dalai Lama despite Chinese opposition/protests

4.  Kevin Rudd’s position on Chinese relations was considerable warmer than that of the Howard Government, particularly because he was a former diplomat appointed to China, and could speak fluent Mandarin.  He regarded the relationship with the Asia-Pacific as central to his ‘Three Pillars’ of the foreign politics of the Rudd Government  In 2008, Australia criticised Taiwan for its repeated push for independence.  His relationship enabled greater opportunities for investments in the Australian economy.  The Rudd Government remained strangely silent on the Stern Hu affair, with Foreign Minister Stephen Smith calling Hu’s sentence ‘harsh’.  Former Attorney-General Joel Fitzgibbon was forced to resign after successful businesswomen Helen Liu funded trips for him to China twice; once in 2002, another time in 2005 – both before he was in government.

5.  Banned Chinese film showed at the 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival Banned Chinese film showed at the 2009 Melbourne International Film Festival

6.  Negotiations for an Australia-China Free Trade Agreement  Fourteenth round of negotiation in February 2010 – since 2005!!  Australia-China Nuclear Material Transfer Agreement and Nuclear Cooperation Agreement  Cooperation in Peaceful of Uses of Nuclear Energy Agreement

7.  Rio Tinto Stern Hu detention in China after being accused of selling state secrets in 2009-10.  Former Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon getting kickbacks off Helen Liu, and paid trips to China  Kevin Rudd relationship with China

8. Hu Jintao

9.  Mining royalties  70% of resources get exported to China  China buys lots of resources off Australia – including coal and uranium  Economic benefits  Large Chinese investment in Australian interests  Bringing money into the Australian economy; their investment into our resources is attributed as being one of the factors that prevented Australia from going into recession during the Global Financial Crisis.

10. 7 May 2010 ‘Then-Deputy Prime Minister meets with the Chinese Vice Premier’

11. The Purples