Anthony Albanese tells Kamala Harris and Antony Blinken he is ‘clear-eyed’ ahead of Xi meeting

Anthony Albanese told US politicians and diplomats that his government’s approach in dealing with Beijing has been ‘patient, calibrated and deliberate’.

Anthony Albanese (C) speaks as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) listen during a luncheon at the State Department on October 26, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Anthony Albanese says Australia is “clear-eyed” about its efforts to stabilise relations with China ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping, telling senior US politicians and diplomats that his government’s approach in dealing with Beijing has been “patient, calibrated and deliberate”.

Amid anxiety in Washington about China’s re-engagement with the Albanese government, after Beijing imposed damaging trade bans and state-sponsored cyber attacks on Australia, the Prime Minister said “as a constructive middle power with global interests we understand the value and importance of dialogue”.

Following warnings from Joe Biden about trusting promises made by the Chinese Communist government one-week out from his meetings with the Chinese President and Premier Li Qiang, the Prime Minister said Australia and the US are working to “stabilise” relations with Beijing.

“We are clear-eyed about this. We are two nations with very different histories, values and political systems. Australia will always look to co-operate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage, in our national interest,” Mr Albanese said.

“Our approach has been patient, calibrated and deliberate. And that will continue when I visit Beijing and Shanghai next month.”

Speaking at a US State Department lunch hosted by Vice-President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Mr Albanese expressed deep loyalty to the alliance and strongly backed US global leadership “at a time when our world faces a set of profound challenges”.

In his speech, titled “An Alliance for the Future’, Mr Albanese said Australia supports the Biden administration’s efforts to “maintain open lines of communication between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China”.

“As a great American President (John F. Kennedy) and the father of the current US Ambassador to Australia (Caroline Kennedy), proved 60 years ago, during the Cuban Crisis, the true measure of a superpower’s strength is the ability to pull the world back from the brink of conflict,” he said.

“Once again, that has become the test of our time. China has been explicit: it does not see itself as a status-quo power. It seeks a region and a world that is much more accommodating of its values and interests.”

Mr Albanese, who throughout the week-long Washington visit largely avoided publicly discussing China, said it was the responsibility of every nation that has benefited from the stability and prosperity of the international rules-based order over the last 75 years to “work together and protect it”.

“Securing the sovereignty that confers every nation’s right to determine its own destiny. Protecting the freedom of navigation which is central to our shared prosperity. Upholding the human rights which are central to every individual’s life and liberty.”

“And working together to maintain peace – not just in the Taiwan Strait but wherever it is at risk. This means investing in our capabilities to prevent competition escalating into conflict. And investing in our relationships to maintain the dialogue that safeguards stability.”

US Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with Anthony Albanese during a State Luncheon hosted by at the State Department in Washington, DC.

Mr Albanese said the US was carrying the “weight of global leadership” as the world confronts threats to peace and tests of the international rules-based order. As “leader of America’s steadfast ally”, Mr Albanese said Australia would stand with the US “in the cause of peace (and) to build a more free, stable and prosperous world”.

“Eight decades ago, Australia looked to America when our own need was most dire. We recognise the world is looking to you now. And we know it does not look in vain. American leadership will meet this moment. And as allies we will face the future together.”

Mr Albanese said “we are not looking for conflict – we are seeking to prevent it”: “Making it crystal clear to any aggressor that the risk of conflict far outweighs any potential benefit”.

As a leader in the Indo-Pacific region and a middle power, Mr Albanese said Australia is not “looking for a free ride”.

“Australians always pay our way. We pull our weight. We do our part. We always have. We always will. That’s one of the points I took the opportunity to make to key members of the House and the Senate in person today. The AUKUS bills before Congress represent a multi-billion dollar boost to America’s industrial base – and a game-changing manufacturing opportunity for Australian workers.”

“It will mean Australians and Americans can work and train side-by-side in allied shipyards. And beyond submarines, AUKUS will enable seamless co-operation between our two nations in defence science, technology and industry to help meet the new strategic challenges of our time.”

On his final day in Washington, Mr Albanese held a 10-minute meeting with newly minted Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who won a tight vote on Thursday (AEDT) to become the top Republican in Congress.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (C) speaks alongside US Vice President Kamala Harris during a State Luncheon in honour of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the State Department in Washington, DC.

Speaking in the House meeting room, the Louisiana representative met Mr Albanese in the corridor to shake his hands and the Prime Minister congratulated him on becoming Speaker after a weeks-long impasse that stalled all business in the House of Representatives. Mr Albanese quipped that “it might be too late for me to address Congress”, to which Mr Johnson said “unfortunately”. He raised the AUKUS enabling legislation and told Mr Johnson he hoped that Congress could pass the bill by year’s end.

The Prime Minister and Ambassador Kevin Rudd also held a 45-minute meeting with the Senate leadership, including the Majority Leader, Democrat Chuck Schumer, and Minority Leader, veteran Republican Mitch McConnell.

Earlier in the day, Mr Albanese attended a breakfast and reception hosted by the Friends of Australia Congressional Caucus in a Senate meeting room. The bipartisan caucus is led by Democrats and Republicans including Joe Courtney, Mike Gallagher, Dan Sullivan and Dick Durbin. Defence and Foreign Affairs committee chairs Jack Reed, Benjamin Cardin and Mike Rogers also attended.

Mr Albanese joined Ms Harris and Mr Blinken for the signing of the Technology Safeguards Agreement, which will protect sensitive US space technology to be used in Australia for launch and return. The agreement allows US rockets and satellites to be launched from Australia, supporting a domestic launch sector and spaceports.

Earlier in his speech, Mr Albanese said Australia “unequivocally condemns the atrocities committed by Hamas and the destruction their acts of terror have inflicted on innocent lives in Israel and Gaza”.

“And we stand with our international partners in calling for access to lifesaving humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.”

He said “striving for peace is hard work” that demands new effort and resources, creativity and resolve.

“But whenever we consider the costs, the obstacles or the difficulties of this course – we need only consider the alternative. Because the closing-off of economies, the collapse of diplomacy, the cutting of ties, the burden of conflict and the devastation of war are catastrophic for the world.”

Mr Albanese visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency before flying back to Australia.