The Quiet Revolution

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As in any partnership, there are challenges ahead for Australia. "China's is a high-maintenance relationship," says a third government adviser. "There are tricky issues all the time: human rights, intellectual property, Taiwan, visas, the commercial stuff. It does underscore, however, how engaged we are." For public servants - including police, defense personnel and customs officers - China is becoming part of the workload. Police, for instance, see an increased level of threat coming from China as its economy grows. The Australian Federal Police are working with their Chinese counterparts to combat transnational crimes like drug trafficking, money laundering, people smuggling and sexual servitude; the agency is educating its officers in Chinese language and culture and building relationships. Agent Mike Phelan manages the A.F.P.'s border and international network. He's been to China three times in the past 10 months, a reflection of the key role China's police now play in areas such as major drug busts (particularly for amphetamines, for which illicit factories in southern China are a major source). "The biggest threat to Australia where we require assistance from China is in drug trafficking," he says. "China is a major transit country for the heroin coming from the Golden Triangle." On the other side, China's focus is currently on 500 economic fugitives who have absconded with billions of dollars; six suspects have been repatriated from Australia.

Soon the issue of uranium sales will come under debate in Australia again. Given its expansion and global carbon-emissions protocols, China's energy future is looking increasingly nuclear. Australia has the world's largest uranium reserves. The two countries are working on a nuclear safeguards agreement. "We believe in the peaceful use of nuclear energy," says Foreign Minister Downer. Although environmentalists are not the political force they have been in the past, uranium mine expansions or a Chinese stake in the industry would bring protesters to the streets. The Howard government has changed the way Australia addresses Chinese human rights violations by pursuing what Downer describes as a "practical and constructive" bilateral dialog rather than by condemning China in a meaningless vote in Geneva. Critics say that approach is only slightly better than doing nothing. "Trade is a great news story," says writer Jose. "The whole question of human rights in China is not getting much play - and that's a big concern." An Australian official who has played a role says the dialog gives Australia "a great insight into Chinese thinking." "We get input into the training of jurists and improving the legal system. The hard issues, such as torture and political prisoners, are all out in the open."

It may seem implausible, but perhaps Australia is exerting its own soft power on the Middle Kingdom. Think of all those students, like Lily Liao, who say they've become "Australianized," who cherish the freedoms and friendships they've found in their second home. Or the brightest Australian graduates, who can't wait to pack their bags for a gig in Shanghai. When Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympics, Australians will have been behind the scenes there for years; a number of Games venues will have been conceived in Australian design and architectural offices.

Follow the ore. Perhaps a future Chinese president will have gained a Rio Tinto scholarship to study at the Australian National University or honed her engineering skills at a Pilbara mine. Beyond this week's landmark visit by Prime Minister Howard, Australia's quiet revolution will continue. The long view could be just as surprising for 1.3 billion Chinese.