Rudd’s misguided brutal realism on China

If we turn the tables, however, we will see a China that is surrounded by a sceptical neighbourhood and an encroaching US that has revitalised its hubs and spokes alliances with the region, potentially adding India to its list of local China-containing allies.

Another important fact is that China has not had a war since its failed assault on Vietnam in 1979, whereas the US has fought several. If there is a genuine fear currently circulating the Asia-Pacific, it is in Beijing.

Rudd’s poor realism

This brings us back to Rudd’s ill-founded realism on China. As a country that is benefiting significantly from China’s rise, advocating strategies to our superpower friend that seek to contain and agitate China is neither in Australia’s interest, nor the world’s. China is already conforming to international norms, primarily in the economic domain. Its integration into the international system has been an ongoing, and so far, successful process for the past 30 years.

China’s military is no match for American military might, and won’t be for the near future.

The Chinese have shown no intention to conquer its neighbours, save for legitimate territorial disputes over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

The real fear is that should the US and its regional allies push China into a corner, it may well produce an outcome they initially sought to avoid: a powerful Chinese adversary. Thus, realism as a theoretical drive to developing policies towards China is a redundant source with potentially dangerous consequences.

If the US and Australia want China to become a partner in maintaining Asia-Pacific security, they must start treating it as one.