Leaders on Asia | The Hon Kevin Rudd | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Melbourne Asia Game Changer Awards
    • Program Streams
  • Issues
    • Complex Asia
    • Trade Smarter
    • Living with China
    • Generation Asia
  • Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Disruptive Asia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Asia Society Australia YouTube
  • Initiatives
    • Anticipating Albanese: Australia-China Ties in the Spotlight
    • Asia Trade and Innovation Hub
    • Supply Chains in Southeast Asia
    • Generation Asia Research Reports
    • CEO Roundtables
    • Viet Nam Initiative
    • Australia and Korea: Middle Power Parallels
    • Australia-Japan: Stepping up a Special Strategic Relationship in Asia
  • Experts
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Centre for China Analysis
    • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • News
  • Members and Partners
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us
Australia
Search
Australia
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
    • Melbourne Asia Game Changer Awards
    • Program Streams
  • Issues
    • Complex Asia
    • Trade Smarter
    • Living with China
    • Generation Asia
  • Analysis
    • Briefing MONTHLY
    • China Executive Briefing
    • Disruptive Asia
    • Southeast Asia and COVID-19 Project
    • Asia Society Australia YouTube
  • Initiatives
    • Anticipating Albanese: Australia-China Ties in the Spotlight
    • Asia Trade and Innovation Hub
    • Supply Chains in Southeast Asia
    • Generation Asia Research Reports
    • CEO Roundtables
    • Viet Nam Initiative
    • Australia and Korea: Middle Power Parallels
    • Australia-Japan: Stepping up a Special Strategic Relationship in Asia
  • Experts
    • Asia Society Policy Institute in Australia
    • Distinguished Fellowships
    • Scholar-In-Residence
    • Centre for China Analysis
    • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • News
  • Members and Partners
    • Become a Member
    • Our Members
    • Our Partners
  • Support Us
    • Support Asia Society Australia
    • Donate now
    • Planned giving
  • About
    • About Asia Society Australia
    • Our Strategic Plan
    • Our Programs
    • Our People
    • Our Board and Advisory Council
    • Careers and Internships
    • Contact Us

Leaders on Asia | The Hon Kevin Rudd

"Australia shouldn't take a binary view on China"

Kevin and Haidi

Kevin Rudd in conversation with Bloomberg's Haidi Stroud - Watts. Picture: Asia Society Australia

Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Price Rudd Ferguson
Enlarge Hide captions

SYDNEY 18 July 2018

Asia Society Policy Institute President and Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has urged Australia to develop a ‘reasonable, sustainable and bipartisan’ national strategy on China.

Speaking at an Asia Society Australia Leaders on Asia address yesterday in Sydney, Mr Rudd stressed the importance for Australia to get its relationship with China right, engineering a path to engagement that involves neither “conflict nor Kow Tow".

Back in 2011, as Foreign Minister of Australia, Mr Rudd first argued a middle-ground approach to deal with a rising China, “one that doesn’t see us polarized”. Seven years later as Australia-China debate becomes increasingly dichotomous, Rudd continues to advocate for balance.

Recognised as one of the leading global thinkers on foreign policy, Mr Rudd reinforced the need for a national approach that recognises the economic imperatives of the relationship while not undermining our core values as a Western democracy and our interests as an ally.

Australia needs to become both proactive and nuanced in its approach to China he said.

“We need to recognise that there are areas where we do and don’t share common interests and values”.

Elaborating, Mr Rudd said that Australia and China’s interests align over counter terrorism but not over U.S. engagement, in the same way that values converge over climate change but not human rights.

“Australia needs to recognize agreement, disagreement and the grey zone.”

In the same vein Mr Rudd urged Australia to move past the China-U.S. binary.

“This is not a binary proposition, we can walk and chew gum,” said Mr Rudd, “Australia is perfectly capable of managing a strategic relationship with the U.S. and an economic partnership with China.”

Given the escalation of trade disputes between the U.S. and China, which Rudd predicts will only amplify in light of Trump’s take on Russia, it is critical for Australia to develop a long-term, consistent, and independent policy of engagement with China.

"Because of the political reaction to this extraordinary statement from Trump in Helsinki, he'll now be in retreat which is more likely to cause him to pivot to an even harder line on China," he said.

Mr Rudd detailed these deep disruptions and dislocations to geopolitics, geoeconomics, technological development, artificial intelligence, and climate change. With the “China factor alive in them all” he unpacked them through the lens of Xi Jinping.

Key objectives for China’s strategic and economic reform included the preservation of the party marked by a reassertion of ideology over practicality, salvation of the motherland, longevity of Chinese economic reform in a way conducive to party primacy, placation of relationships with neighbouring states, annexation of a strategic buffer through to the Atlantic, conservation of the maritime periphery, and reformation of the world-based system in a manner that cultivates Chinese growth.

With a growing number of scenarios in which opposing “worldviews are rubbing slates,” Rudd explained how Xi’s desire to preserve and advance the China footprint has only amplified.

“Xi is determined to prove Fukuyama wrong,” said Rudd, referring to the political scientist who argued that the worldwide spread of liberal democracies and free market capitalism would mark the final form of human government.

With Australia on the radar, Mr Rudd reiterates that our relationship with China needs to be a priority.

“Australia looked at through Beijing’s lens is seen as a major player, we loom as one of China’s top 12 preoccupations. Therefore what we say and do matters,” he said.

Rudd’s recommended the bringing together of business, security and bureaucratic leadership for a series of closed-door discussions to build a long-term bipartisan China strategy.

Asia Society Australia, in partnership with EY, was delighted to host Mr Rudd for this Leaders on Asia address at EY in Sydney.

Guests included senior representatives of leading Australian and global companies across the key sectors of finance and banking, telecommunications, mining, professional and legal services, aviation and health, and government.

The event continued a long tradition of Asia Society Australia hosting leaders of government and key decision makers from across Asia for major public events.


Our Leaders on Asia program presents high-profile events with visiting heads of state, ministers, senior officials, dignitaries and leading thinkers from the Indo-Pacific region and Australia. It provides members with a unique direct access to leaders who shape the present and future of our region.


This event was proudly supported by EY.

EY logo

Media Coverage

  • Kevin headshot

    Extensive Media Coverage of The Hon Kevin Rudd's Address at Asia Society Australia

    The Hon Kevin Rudd receives extensive media coverage of his Asia Society Australia Leaders on Asia address in the AFR, The Australian, Sky News, and 9 News.

Kevin Rudd at Asia Society

  • KR at Singapore Conference on 0815
    article
     /  Asia Society Policy Institute

    The Challenge for Small States in Navigating Turbulent Geopolitical Times

    The Hon. Dr. Kevin Rudd AC, Founding Chair of Center for China Analysis, Asia Society Polity Institute gave remarks at the Conference on the 100th Anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew's Birth.
  • Flags of G20 at Jakarta
    article
     /  Asia Society Policy Institute

    Indonesia Could Benefit Greatly From Achieving Net Zero Sooner

    Kevin Rudd, Ban Ki-moon, and Muhamad Chatib Basri write in the Jakarta Post on the importance of Indonesia accelerating its net zero actions.
  • Indonesia power plants
    report
     /  Asia Society Policy Institute

    Getting Indonesia to Net Zero

    Indonesia could avoid $3.8 trillion in investment requirements and peak its carbon emissions three years sooner if it hits net zero emissions by 2050 instead of 2060 while prioritizing solar and wind energy.
  • Kevin Rudd - Inaugural University of Queensland “China Matters Oration”
    speech
     /  Asia Society Policy Institute

    China’s Competing Ideological and Economic Policy Objectives in 2023

    Kevin Rudd talks about China's competing ideological and economic objectives in 2023 in his inaugural China Matters Oration co-hosted with the University of Queensland
  • Jiang Zemin
    article
     /  Asia Society Policy Institute

    Jiang Zemin, Steward of China's Rise

    Kevin Rudd writes on Jiang Zemin's role in China's rise for Lowy Insitute's The Interpreter.
  • A woman walks past a logo of the G20 Summit, in Jakarta on November 8, 2022.
    article
     /  Asia Society Policy Institute

    The Climate Fight Is Asia’s Leadership Opportunity

    Kevin Rudd and Ban Ki-moon write in Project Syndicate about the role Asia could play in the fight against climate change.
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Seattle
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Education
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
. Asia Society Twitter Account . Asia Society Instagram Account . Asia Society Facebook Account . Asia Society LinkedIn Account . Asia Society YouTube Account
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2023 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Seattle
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC