Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

In a speech on Saturday marking the 80th anniversary of the death of former prime minister John Curtin, current Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the Labor Party would pursue Australia's interests, even where they differ from those of the US, emphasizing the need for the "Australian way."

However, some Western media outlets widely interpreted this as a "snub" to the US, and Albanese's remarks drew criticism from some Australian politicians. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce claimed that Australia is "moving closer to China" and "further from the US," calling it "very dangerous." He insisted that Australia must prioritize its alliance with the US, warning that without it, the country would need to spend "hundreds of billions of dollars" on defense.

Why did Albanese's push for Australian independence trigger such a reaction? "It reflects the entrenched habit of dependency among some Australian politicians on the US, to the extent that they seem to have lost the ability to assess Australia's own national interest," Chen Hong, a professor of Australian Studies at the East China Normal University in Shanghai, told the Global Times. 

For decades, certain figures in Australia's political sphere have tied the country tightly to the US for security, economics, and even values, binding Australia's fate closely to that of Washington. However, the growing instability in international order and widening rifts between Canberra and Washington in recent months have spurred some in Australia - including the current government - to rethink the country's place in the global landscape. In June, the US urged Australia to lift its defense budget to 3.5 percent of GDP. In response, Albanese stated that "we will determine our defense policy." Shortly afterward, the US Department of Defense initiated a review of the AUKUS deal, sparking a new wave of criticism and reflection within Australia regarding its relationship with the US.

"Albanese's 'Australian way' is, in essence, an expression of strategic autonomy," Chen noted.

For Australia, independence has always been an issue. The country formally gained sovereignty in 1901, but historically, it has tied its destiny to greater powers - first Britain, then the US. To this day, genuine national autonomy remains an unfinished goal. While Australia is nominally independent, its policy decisions and strategic choices are often subordinated to US interests. Albanese's reference to Curtin's legacy was a symbolic declaration of the importance of pursuing an independent path and safeguarding national interests. As he put it, "We need an Australian foreign policy anchored in strategic reality."

Nevertheless, Albanese has come under fire for allegedly being "too close" to China. But in reality, Australia's current China policy is more about moving away from the self-harming anti-China posture that had dominated previously - not about choosing China over the US. 

As China-Australia ties gradually improve, dialogue mechanisms are being restored, trade is rebounding and societal exchanges are increasing. Yet, there are still voices attempting to disrupt this positive momentum. Some Western narratives hype the so-called "China threat" under the guise of "defense concerns," aiming to justify continued dependence on the US security umbrella.

"In fact, US defense strategies - such as the 'Indo-Pacific strategy' - are what threaten Australia's security," said Chen. When politicians tether Australia's national interest to the strategic contests of other powers and stoke regional confrontation, it is these actions that pose genuine risks to Australia's future, he noted.

China-Australia relations are returning to a more rational and stable track, which is in line with the interests of both sides. For Australia, China is not a challenger, but a constructive partner. China has been Australia's largest trading partner, largest export destination and the largest source of imports for 16 consecutive years. The two countries have no historical grievances or fundamental conflicts of interest. As Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian recently wrote in an article, China and Australia "have hundreds of reasons to be friends, and none to be enemies.''