Anthony Albanese China visit : Australia’s iron ore exports to China are a key topic today as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues his official visit, amid ongoing concerns over national security and the country’s defence alliance with the United States.
On the second day of his trip, Albanese is prioritising major business expansion.
Yesterday, he teamed up with former Socceroos star and current Shanghai Port manager Kevin Muscat to promote tourism and encourage more Chinese visitors to Australia.
Iron Ore Trade Tops Agenda as Albanese Meets Chinese Leaders
Chinese tourists are increasingly outspending visitors from other countries,” Albanese noted.
This morning, attention shifts to iron ore — Australia’s largest export — with China remaining its biggest customer.
According to United Nations data, Australian iron ore exports to China exceeded $120 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute reported in November 2023 that Australia accounted for 61 percent of China’s iron ore imports.
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However, China’s push to reduce emissions could pose a risk to this economic pillar, as refining Australian iron ore demands higher energy use.
This issue is central to today’s talks, where top industry figures — including Andrew Twiggy” Forrest — are meeting with the prime minister and Chinese business leaders to explore how Australia can contribute to making China’s steel industry more environmentally sustainable.
Meanwhile, concerns over national security and defence persist back home, especially following reports that the U.S. may seek a commitment from Australia to support a potential Taiwan conflict under a revised AUKUS agreement.
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National security expert Michael Shoebridge said Prime Minister Albanese is navigating a delicate balance on the matter, noting that there appears to be some unease in Washington regarding the strength of the alliance.
Our entire defence strategy is based on the principle that we don’t fight alone,” Shoebridge told Today.
We collaborate with partners and allies to deter conflict — but if war breaks out, we face it together. That’s the core of our approach.
Albanese has previously resisted U.S. pressure to boost defence spending.
However, as Shoebridge noted, large-scale military exercises involving 30,000 troops from the U.S. and key Asia-Pacific allies like Japan and South Korea are currently underway on Australian soil.
As part of his visit to China this week, Albanese is also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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