ABSTRACT
The dramatic events that took place in Beijing and other Chinese cities in the late spring and early summer of 1989 resulted in apparent disruptions in Sino-Australian relations and led to abrupt changes in Australian attitudes and policies towards China. Nonetheless, the immediate reactions from Bob Hawke and other Australian leaders were not merely a passive reflection of international and domestic sentiments, but also stemmed from their personal convictions. But there was one important exception: while Hawke had been to China twice as Prime Minister of Australia, Paul Keating was yet to crown the 20th anniversary of Sino-Australian diplomatic relations by paying a prime ministerial visit to China. In his talks with Chinese leaders, Keating concentrated on the development of business opportunities in the wake of China's rapid economic growth. For a time after mid-1989, the scale of Australia's China policy seemed to be tipped in favour of political considerations characterized by concerns over China's human rights record.
