The 36th session of the “Adventus Amicorum” seminar series was hosted by the Institute of Area Studies Peking University (PKUIAS) on November 13, 2024. The speaker, Edward Sing Yue Chan, a postdoctoral fellow at the Australian National University’s Global China Research Centre, delivered a lecture titled “Ocean Governance: Australia and China.” The event was moderated by Liang Qianyu, a PhD student at PKUIAS.
In his presentation, Chan introduced two central themes: "China's Role in Global Ocean Governance" and "China–Australia Relations and Maritime Security in the South Pacific." The former examined China’s goals and positioning in driving reforms in global ocean governance, while the latter explored the potential for Sino-Australian cooperation in non-traditional security domains. Chan highlighted that, ever since 2012, when China proposed building itself as a maritime power, its maritime strategy has become increasingly comprehensive, with active engagement in regional and international collaborations aimed at fostering a more equitable global ocean governance system.
In discussing Sino-Australian relations, Chan analyzed the geopolitical divergences that have impacted their economic cooperation. While bilateral relations have stabilized since 2022, Australia’s heightened perception of China as a security threat has limited the impetus for collaboration. However, non-traditional security areas, such as fisheries management, climate change, and environmental protection, have been identified as potential avenues for breakthrough cooperation. Furthermore, South Pacific nations have leveraged flexible diplomatic strategies to assert greater autonomy amid the Sino-Australian competition, using aid negotiations to maximize their benefits. The dynamic underscores the importance of examining strategic differences between China and Australia in the South Pacific and exploring opportunities for cooperation in non-traditional security domains.
During the discussion session, participants provided diverse insights. Kong Tao, director of the Research Department at Peking University’s Chinese Social Science Survey Center, noted that although Australia’s leadership role in the South Pacific lacks strong domestic consensus, its experience in Southeast Asian policies could serve as a reference for Sino-Australian cooperation. Lin Duo, a doctoral candidate at the Institute of Area Studies, observed that Australian domestic political shifts, particularly elections, could cause fluctuations in its China-related policies. Li Bolun, a research fellow at the content creator “Development Innovation Insider” (Diinsider), pointed out that while China’s cooperation in the South Pacific remains limited in scale, it holds significant potential, especially in marine conservation and fisheries management, though systematic dialogue mechanisms are currently absent. Yuan Ruichen, a doctoral candidate at the School of International Studies at Peking University, emphasized that the core objectives of China’s maritime strategy are to safeguard national security and enhance its international influence. Liang Qianyu highlighted the stark contrasts in Sino-Australian positioning in the South Pacific, where China expands its influence through economic aid while Australia focuses on maintaining its traditional dominance.
In his concluding remarks, Zhai Kun, deputy director of PKUIAS, acknowledged that although there is a divergence in security perceptions between China and Australia, there is still potential for collaboration in non-traditional security areas. He called for strengthened cooperation between academics and think tanks, the establishment of dialogue platforms, and the active engagement of young scholars to advance bilateral relations. Finally, Chan addressed the participants’ questions and offered his reflections on the discussions.
