The rise of China is a formidable challenge for western-oriented Australia, especially because China’s economic rise is mirrored by a significant increase in its military might. Kevin Rudd, Australia’s Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010, pursued two seemingly inconsistent policies towards China: His proposal of an “Asia Pacific Community” aimed at integrating China into a more formal regional institution, while at the same time he advocated a vast military procurement program as in response to China’s increasing investments in military capabilities. Discussing the concept of so-called “Power Transition Theory” Niklas Schörnig shows that these do not contradict but complement each other, and clarifies the way “middle power” Australia subtly tries to influence “bigger” players in order to promote its own interests.weiterlesen