China in Australia and the accounts of soft power

"Now is the winter of our discontent", laments the cold wind wafting south to Australia. This follows Australian media having expressed outrage at possible inducements to politicians, by some Chinese Australians, inducement being a form of coercion for political scientist Joseph Nye Jr.

The Australian parliament has responded with new legislation to curb such influence. And Chinese Australians, highly respected and valued citizens, are upset about being embroiled in this controversy.

The claims of mutual soft power dissipation by Australia and China deserve serious thought from a soft power perspective. Goodwill toward China, built up through robust trade relations with Australia, need not be affected by political lobbying by a Chinese Australian. Conversely, the loss of soft power, through unwelcome political lobbying, need not affect soft power in trade.

News reports in Australia reflect the business community's perception that Australia's trade ties with China are in jeopardy. The more we allow negativity from one area to seep into another, the more we risk painting bilateral ties with a hard power brush.

Political intervention in foreign lands is common practice among great powers. Yet it can result in a backlash. Countries tolerate some manner of political influence by certain other countries in specific contexts. Australia has since the 1900s been wary of influence from some quarters and has grown defensive cultural and political borders.

The Australian Federation was a product of this concern.

Some Australian news reports suggest many Australians suspect China is meddling in Australian politics, in a manner that will dilute Australian democracy. Many Chinese Australians, however, have asserted the reported intervention had nothing to do with Beijing. This carefully finessed segment, of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's statement, goes a long way to mark out a safe path: "Our relationship with China is far too important to put at risk by failing to clearly set the terms of healthy and sustainable engagement." The new legislation would reduce the possibility of over-zealous members of any diaspora generating flurries in Australian citizens' sentiment.

Australian diaspora members and sojourners abroad, and diaspora members and sojourners in Australia, could be circumspect in acting in political ways that irk peoples in their countries of residence. This raises the question of political rights of "new" Australians. Should a "new" Australian be discouraged from influencing politics? It is probably sagacious to call for a measure of transparency in any political lobbying that favors the interests of another state. A political donor, who gives the appearance of being an agent of a foreign government, risks discomposing Australian public sentiment. Transparency can help ensure good governance as well as protect Australian interests.

Australia has deep cultural roots in the history, culture and political systems of the United Kingdom, as well as the United States. Many Australia-born Chinese naturally acquire Australian culture, contributing sparkling elements of the Chinese genius to the Australian body social. Over time their aspirations may also cumulatively influence the general polity. Australians may need, at some point in the future, to revisit the question of alliances, based on the needs of the day. In the present epoch, Australia continues to seek security in the arms of the US and material comfort in exchanges with China.

Australia's attraction to its military alliance with the US is driven by soft power. This is likely to endure as long as there is congruence between the political values of Australia and the US. The Australian attraction to China for purposes of trade has also been without coercion. China is blessed with the wisdom of the ages. The best strain of influence is where kindness and correctness (ren yi) prevail and one influences by not seeking to influence (wu wei).

Australia and China should consider defining a soft power relationship that will be a model for others, one that will blossom in a glorious summer of contentment.

The author is inaugural director, Soft Power Analysis& Resource Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney.