Defense ties make headway
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The development of China-Australia military ties has not altogether been a happy story, and has been dogged by some discord and quite a few issues.
Despite relatively mature bilateral relations and military relations, it isn't surprising to see problems emerging in bilateral ties. While facing difficulty, both sides should engage in active dialogue and do more to overcome the difficulties rather than resorting to suspicion.
Fortunately, the three sides are all fully aware of the significance of developing bilateral relations with each other and could deal with mutual military ties from the strategic perspective of international relations development.
China-Australia and China-New Zealand trade relations are strongly complementary and have great room for growth. China has become Australia's largest trade partner, largest import source and largest export market in 2009.
China is also New Zealand's second largest trade partner and third largest export market. Though affected by the financial crisis, trade volume between China and the two partners in 2009 saw positive growth.
Robust trade relations could act as the most enduring driving force to promote China-Australia and China-New Zealand relations, including bilateral military ties.
In the post-financial crisis era, countries have more integrated interests and are facing increasingly complicated security risks, and no single country or single armed force can set the pace for ever.
Developed countries and emerging developing economies should respect each other, listen attentively to each other, and have enough patience to understand the diversity of the world, tolerating differences in different political systems, social structures and cultural heritages, so as to achieve common security and common prosperity.
Global security threats require joint efforts. The rise of power in the Asia-Pacific region provides better prospect for different countries to conduct broad military exchanges and cooperate, and China's military ties with Australia and New Zealand will play a more significant role in promoting the construction of a harmonious Asia, as well as a harmonious world.
The author is a researcher at the PLA National Defense University.
