“A timely, wide ranging and well- informed collection that presents the balanced but forcefully argued views of some of the best qualified scholars on this issue at a moment when such a book is crucial. An essential primer.”

—Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies and Director, Lau China Institute, United Kingdom

“This book delivers a patient, dispassionate, and cool-headed analysis from the authors’ life-long, dedicated research on China… if Australia’s public debate is to have any hope of going beyond media headlines and think-tank reports, this book is essential reading.”

—Wanning Sun, Professor of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia

“As the world seems to be spiralling toward a new Cold War with China, this edited volume offers a useful corrective to what has been, at times, a hysterical over-reaction to the growth of Chinese global power. This volume could not be more timely or more necessary.”

—Michael Dutton, Professor, Smith College London, United Kingdom

“This book is a timely and a strong riposte to the narrative that this was all China’s doing…. the authors pick apart simplistic depictions of an ideological stand-off and offer more compelling explanations for today’s rivalries and antagonisms.”

—Dr David Brophy, Senior Lecturer Sydney University

Derived from an international symposium held in Adelaide in 2021, these essays are an attempt to offer some understanding and explanations for the deterioration of relationship between Australian and China. It is also an attempt to explore the ways by which the two countries can reach some common ground for some shared but different futures, futures without a war hot or cold, between a rising power of China and the status quo power of the West.

Mobo Gao is Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of Adelaide.

Justin O' Connor is Professor ofCultural Economy at the University of South Australia.

Dr. Baohui Xie is scholarly teaching fellow at the University of Adelaide.

Jack Butcher is a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide.

“A timely, wide ranging and well informed contribution to the currently vexed and turbulent relationship between Australia and China. This collection presents the balanced but forcefully argued views of some of the best qualified scholars on this issue at a moment when such a book is crucial. An essential primer.” (Kerry Brown, Professor, King’s College)

“If you just want fast food off the China threat production assembly line, this is not the book for you. What this book delivers is that extremely rare commodity: a patient, dispassionate, cool-headed analysis drawing on insights from the authors’ life-long, dedicated research on China. If you want to see Australia-China relations improve, and if Australia’s public debate is to have any hope of going beyond media headlines and think-tank reports, this book is essential reading.” (Wanning Sun, Professor, University of Technology Sydney)

“As the world seems to be spiralling toward a new Cold War with China, this edited volume offers a useful corrective to what has been, at times, a hysterical over-reaction to the growth of Chinese global power. Featuring a number of Australia’s leading China specialists discussing the two country's relations, this volume could not be more timely or more necessary.” (Michael Dutton, Professor, University of London)

“This book is a timely stocktake of the spectacular collapse of Australia-China relations, and a strong riposte to the narrative that this was all China’s doing. With informed perspectives on questions of Australian security and identity, and the nature of today’s PRC, the authors pick apart simplistic depictions of an ideological stand-off and offer more compelling explanations for today’s rivalries and antagonisms. Anyone looking for an alternative to rising tensions and the reckless contemplation of war will find much to draw on in this volume.” (David Brophy, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney)