Publication

This paper examines China's growing economy, its need for commodities, and the challenges its emergence as a major economic power will pose for Australia and the rest of the world. The author argues that China is the major factor driving commodity prices and is an increasingly important investor in developing countries as well as Australia. He then looks at why China’s emergence as a great power will be Australia's greatest foreign policy challenge during the 21st century. One reason for this is that Canberra will have to balance its growing economic relationship with China with its traditional alliance with the US.