ABSTRACT
The advent of the Whitlam government in 1972 marked a historic turning point in Australian policy towards China and ushered in a new era in Sino-Australian relations. Instead of reversing Whitlam's policy of friendship with China and reverting back to the past Coalition attitude of hostility towards the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Fraser government took over its predecessor's policy and carried it further. It is evident from the above review that Australia's China policy during the Whitlam/Fraser decade was characterized by both change and continuity. However one may judge the nature of the Whitlam government's foreign policy in general, there is little doubt that the change of policy towards China was not only dramatic but also fundamental. In fact, both the Whitlam and Fraser administrations valued the China relationship more for its politico/strategic importance than for its economic significance. Like the Whitlam era, the warm bilateral friendship during Fraser's prime ministership was not without its undercurrents.
