China has issued a travel warning to Australians visiting the country, citing ‘increasing cases of harassment and discrimination’ reported by Chinese citizens travelling to the country. This development follows protests in Australia, that have highlighted Chinese involvement in human rights abuses and calls for an international investigation toward that end.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian expressed ‘grave concern’ regarding the safety and rights of Chinese citizens travelling to Australia, saying that such visits should only occur with caution. Australia has responded with concerns about reciprocal treatment, arguing that Chinese citizens who visit the country are able to do so safely and the measures put in place are intended to protect the nation’s safety and well-being.
However, China’s Human Rights Watch Director Sophie Richardson argued that such arguments lack ‘convincing data’ and are ‘a feeble attempt to justify a worrying trend toward increased xenophobia in Australia.’ Experts suggest that the root cause of this tension lies in structural issues, such as the long-standing differences in the diplomatic views of the two countries, as well as their diverging economic interests.
Further, there is a feeling of distrust by the Chinese about the Australian government’s intentions with regards to political support for Taiwan, which is considered a breakaway province by Beijing. This sentiment has particularly been fuelled by the fact that Australia recently joined a growing list of countries that have recognised Taiwan’s diplomatic independence.
The growing diplomatic stand-off between the two countries over a number of other issues has also been cited as a main reason for the travel warning. China’s criticism of Australia’s intelligence operations in the South China Sea, as well as its policy of banning Chinese social media networks and telecoms installed in the country are some of the other issues at the heart of this growing clash.
The ramifications of China’s warning can already be felt, with reports that Australian visa applications by Chinese citizens have drastically reduced in recent weeks. Further, numerous bilateral agreements continue to be on hold, with the assessment of potential collaboration by companies in both countries being ‘frozen’ in the absence of political will.
Effect On Tourism
The travel warning will have an adverse effect on tourism and related industries in Australia. China is the country’s largest international tourism market, with over two million Chinese tourists visiting the country in 2019. This figure represented a massive 30% of total international tourists, who contribute greatly to the Australian economy.
In addition, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple inbound international flights have permanently been revoked, resulting in a drastic fall in the number of international tourists. With China visiting a travel warning to its citizens, the forecast for the travel sector in Australia could worsen.
The travel warning also comes at a time when the two countries are preparing to sign an extension of their recently-amended Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This could potentially be delayed if the two sides do not find common ground with regards to various political and economic issues raised by China.
Overall, China’s travel warning is indicative of the deteriorating political and economic ties between the two countries. Moreover, with the statement from Beijing not having come with any concrete evidence, there is a concern that this could further worsen the political and economic landscape in Australia.
Implications for Business
The Chinese travel warning has also raised concern about its potential implications for the business dealings between the two countries. With the already existing tensions, companies on both sides of the border are now worried about the safeguard of their business interests. This has cast further shadows on many potential collaborations and has increased uncertainty due to the political climate.
Experts warn that if the two countries fail to find common ground and resolve their continuing differences soon, then the opportunities available to Australian businesses in China could shrink drastically. This could have severe economic repercussions for Australia, as China is the country’s third largest trading partner, catering for nearly 10% of its trade.
The effects of the travel warning are further amplified due to the fact that Chinese investment in Australia is only expected to continue growing. The Chinese government’s Belt and Road Initiative could potentially open up new opportunities for Chinese businesses to invest in the country’s infrastructure and create more economic ties between the two countries.
However, it remains to be seen what the impact of the travel warning will be on the actual implementation of this initiative. It could be the case that Australia ends up being left out of the grand plan of the Chinese government, potentially resulting in significant losses for the local economy.
Political Fallout
The travel warning has set in motion a political and diplomatic fallout between Australia and China which is likely to have negative implications beyond the realm of business and trade. China’s warning follows other instances of diplomatic and economic grievances between the two countries, creating a tense situation between the two countries.
Reports of the Chinese government’s attempts to interfere with Australian politics have also been repeatedly highlighted, creating an atmosphere of mistrust between the two countries. This has further been exacerbated by cases involving dual citizens of both countries being held in Chinese prison, with Australia raising concerns about them.
Given the current state of affairs between the two countries, any attempts at fostering better diplomatic ties will need to be done with caution. With both sides unwilling to budge, the chances of a swift resolution to this unhappy chapter in their relations appear to be slim.
Effects on Education
The Chinese travel warning has raised concerns about the effects it could have on the country’s education sector, with numerous universities relying heavily on international student enrollment. This includes massive investments made by both countries into research and innovation, important for the overall economic development of Australia.
In particular, the influx of Chinese students into Australia has been a major source of revenue for certain educational institutions, with the presence of a large international student body fostering a unique and vibrant academic culture and opening up new research opportunities. However, with the issuing of the travel warning, it is likely that the number of Chinese students entering the country will decline drastically.
For many universities, this could have a direct impact on their revenue, with educational institutions trying to prepare for a potential drop in enrollment numbers due to the decrease in Chinese students. This in turn could have a damaging effect on other industries related to education, such as the accommodation industry, which is heavily reliant on students from countries all over the globe.
Overall, with the issuing of the travel warning, it appears that the consequences of the political and economic frictions between the two countries will continue to test their relationships in the coming months.
Changing Diplomatic Relationships
The tension between China and Australia has been on the rise in recent months, creating an unpredictable diplomatic climate between them. This is in direct contrast to the level of trust the two countries shared in the past, creating worries about the long-term implications of their relations.
This has been especially true in recent years, with the two countries’ relations slowly deteriorating, highlighted by Beijing’s latest travel warning and the Australian government’s attempts to deter Beijing from certain activities. As a result, diplomats on both sides are trying to create a new strategic approach to managing their differences.
Overall, this is likely to have an effect on various aspects of how the two countries interact. For example, it could mean more restrictions being placed on travellers crossing the border, further hindering tourism, business and trade relations between the two nations. There could also be potential changes in diplomatic ties, with the two countries revising and amending agreements between them. These are some of the possible consequences, depending on the degree and nature of the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Potential Solutions
In order to resolve the ongoing issues between China and Australia, both countries’ leaders and diplomats will have to find ways to build bridges between them. Some of the potential solutions could be to focus on the mutually beneficial aspects of their relationship, such as exploring further opportunities for economic and social collaboration.
In particular, the two countries must seek to find common ground on the issues raised by Beijing and find ways of addressing them without letting them become long-term points of tension. Further, they should also focus on building trust between them, by highlighting their similar values and finding ways of celebrating them together.
This could be done by opening civil dialogues and increasing the level of engagement between the two sides. By creating a better understanding between the two countries, it is possible to reduce existing tensions and foster healthier relations in the long run.
Investing further in educational institutions on both sides could also be beneficial, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange and academic collaboration. Creating open channels of communication and lasting partnerships could be the best way to resolve the current issues and ensure a peaceful and prosperous relationship between the two countries in the future.
