Polling shows Australians remain wary of Beijing despite improved relationship

Most Australians believe military conflict with China within three years is a serious possibility, while fewer than half believe AUKUS will make Australia safer, according to a new survey.

The University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute found that of 2000 respondents, more than 50 per cent supported the government taking a harder line in its dealings with Beijing. Picture: AFP

Most Australians believe military conflict with China within three years is a serious possibility, while fewer than half ­believe AUKUS will make Australia safer, according to a new survey.

The University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute found that of 2000 respondents, more than 50 per cent supported the government taking a harder line in its dealings with Beijing.

More than 70 per cent ­revealed they did not trust the Chinese government, while less than half nominated Labor as the best political party to handle Australian-China policy.

However, faith in the ALP surged from lows last year, when just 35 per cent believed Labor was best placed to navigate the relationship, to 49 per cent this year.

Comparatively, less than 30 per cent now believe the ­Coalition is the best party when it comes to managing foreign policy with China, down from 36 per cent believing so last year.

The relationship with China has thawed significantly under the Labor Party, with Beijing making tentative moves to roll back trade sanctions after ­temporarily suspending the dispute over Australian barley in April.

Just under 30 per cent of the UTS survey respondents revealed the management of China policy under the Morrison government had affected their vote at the election last year.

“Nearly three-quarters of Australians (said) that ‘China is a security threat to Australia’,” ­report co-authors Elena Collinson and Paul Burke said.

 

“Just over half of Australians say that ‘military conflict with China within three years is a serious possibility’.”

More than six in 10 believed Australia should continue to build strong connections and ties with China, while more than 30 per cent disagreed that the government’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS would “keep Australia secure from a military threat from China”.

“Australians remain fairly evenly split since last year between agreeing and disagreeing with the statement ‘if China launches a military attack on Taiwan, Australia should send troops to go to Taiwan’s defence,” Ms Collinson and Mr Burke said. “Thirty-seven per cent of Australians agree, a two-point decrease from 2022 … (and) 36 per cent disagree, a two point increase from 2022.”