Australia has been subject to various trade disputes with China. Exports of logs, barley, and red wine have plummeted, and its mineral hegemony has been gradually weakened. Australian media quoted news as saying that Canberra is studying retaliatory measures, including tearing up a cooperation plan signed between Victoria and Jiangsu Province, because the plan can enhance the strength of Chinese military industry, but this view has been ridiculed by the Chinese media.
Sina.com reported that the industrial R&D cooperation plan between Jiangsu and Victoria supports scientific and technological innovation cooperation between the two provinces and states for the purpose of commercialization. The three priority areas of cooperation are biomedicine, new energy and advanced manufacturing. In addition, the two parties agreed to make cooperation in technological innovation an important part of the two provinces’ participation in the “Belt and Road” initiative between China and Victoria. The Victorian government has stated that the plan aims to promote innovation and create jobs for Victorian residents. But Australian defense experts believe that cooperation will bring risks because China is not an open and free market economy.
The main reason why Canberra considered taking Victorian operations in retaliation against China was because Prime Minister Morrison had long seen Victoria not pleasing to his eyes. In October 2018, the Victorian government and China signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on the “Belt and Road” initiative. Morrison was completely angered. The Australian Parliament passed the “Foreign Relations Act” on the 8th of this month, giving the federal government the power to cancel cooperation agreements signed between foreign countries and state governments, local councils and public universities. Morrison can use this law to tear up the cooperation plan between Victoria and Jiangsu.
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However, the fruitful cooperation between China and Victoria under the framework of the “Belt and Road” has not only promoted local economic development, but also solved some employment problems. Victorian Premier Andrews said in June this year that the “Belt and Road” initiative has created jobs locally. He cited, for example, Chinese companies investing in major projects such as Melbourne’s subway tunnel project and employing tens of thousands of local workers. According to reports, Australia’s irrational approach may bring some politicians a temporary benefit, but in the long run, it will ultimately harm the interests of the local people.
Editor in charge: Chen Jianxi
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