Prime Minister Scott Morrison is due to make his first major speech on foreign policy in Sydney at the Asia Society.
Unimagined damage could be wrought if the US and China’s relationship came to be defined by confrontation, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will say in his first major speech on Australia’s foreign policy.
Mr Morrison is expected to say such a dynamic would benefit nobody.
“It is important that US-China relationships do not come to be defined by confrontation. In the long run, this risks strategic instability,” he will say in the address to the Asia Society in Sydney on Thursday.
“And it risks unimagined damage to economic growth and the global order. Damage where no one benefits. Lose-lose.”
China is the country that is most changing the global balance of power, he will say, sometimes in ways that challenge “important US interests”.
“Inevitably, in the period ahead, we will be navigating a higher degree of US-China strategic competition,” the prime minister will say.
Mr Morrison will note challenges such as debates about the value of free trade cannot be wished away, given their profound political impacts.
“Our response must be grounded confidently in our beliefs and in a hard-headed view of our interests. We need both pragmatism and purpose.”
The prime minister will also flag Australia’s long-term intention to deepen its relationship with India.
“The time is right to step up our existing efforts.”
Mr Morrison wants to take Australia’s relationship with the Pacific to “a new level of respect, partnership and appreciation”, that is more than just “the annual acquittal of aid”.
“As family, we deal with each other openly and honestly, and above all with respect. But like all families we sometimes neglect each other,” he will say.
“We’ll work more closely than ever with the Pacific islands on those issues of greatest concern to them – climate and disaster resilience, keeping the commitments we have made.”
He is also expected to discuss the recent decision to move Australia’s embassy in Israel, without directly responding to criticisms by Indonesia.
