In response to China`s growing influence, Australia is in talks with the United States, India and Japan to establish joint regional infrastructure development projects to match "Belt and Road Initiative".
Australian Prime Minister Tam Po (Malcolm Turnbull) is expected to discuss the idea when he visits the United States this week to meet with U.S. President Donald (Donald Trump), the Australian Financial Review reported. A senior U.S. official told the newspaper that the plan for the four regional partners was "still in its infancy" and was "not mature enough to be announced" during Mr. Tan`s visit to the United States, but that serious discussions were under way.
The senior US official described the plan as an "alternative" rather than a "competitor" for China`s "Belt and Road Initiative," stressing that "no one says China should not have infrastructure." A port built in China may be less economically viable, and we can build roads or railways connecting the port to make it economically viable. "
China has been nervous that Australia, the United States, India and Japan agreed last year to resume the "quadripartite security dialogue (QSD)," the Australian Financial Review said, adding that the co-launching of infrastructure projects by the four countries is expected to draw close attention from the Chinese side.
In November, senior diplomats from Australia, the US, India and Japan met during the ASEAN and East Asia summit in Manila to discuss the resumption of the QSD, which China protested at the time. The four countries intended to launch the QSD, to counterbalance China, but Australia withdrew under pressure from China when Kevin Rudd (Kevin Rudd) was prime minister.
The United States and its allies have always had doubts about China ` s “Belt and Road”. According to China, the “Belt and Road” is the abbreviation of “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. In September and October 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed to build the “New Silk Road Economy”. Strategic conception with "and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road". It will fully rely on the existing dual and multilateral mechanisms of China and relevant countries, and with the help of existing and effective regional cooperation platforms, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to borrow the historical symbols of the ancient Silk Road, hold high the banner of peaceful development, and actively develop and The economic partnerships of countries along the line work together to create a community of interests, a community of destiny and a community of responsibility for political mutual trust, economic integration, and cultural inclusion. However, the United States believes that the “Belt and Road” is a tool for China to export its influence to the world.
Although nearly 70 countries, including New Zealand and some European countries, have signed the "Belt and Road Initiative" cooperation agreement, Tan Baogoverment has always been cautious, but the Labour Party says that in order to bring closer relations with Asia, If you are elected, you are interested in joining.
