Some Chinese-Australians say they're "aghast" and growing wary of the federal government's tough stance on China, warning of a "concerning and dangerous" pattern of behaviour ahead of the next federal election.
Experts and community leaders say there is concern about the impact recent commentary on the relationship between the two countries is having on Chinese-Australians, with some suggesting the approach is being used for "electoral gain" and could backfire in marginal electorates.
It comes as Defence Minister Peter Dutton warned that Australia and its allies will "lose the next decade" unless it stands up to China in the South China Sea.
He made the comments in Nine newspapers on Monday, saying he believed it was important to speak out about China to educate the Australian public, and to ensure the past decade - in which Beijing had militarised the South China Sea - was not repeated.
“I think we’ve lost a considerable period of time where China gave assurances about their activity in the South China Sea,” Mr Dutton said.
“And the United States and others acquiesced and allowed the militarisation now to the point where China has 20 points of presence in the South China Sea, which does not help stability in the region.
“If we continue on that trajectory, then I think we’ll lose the next decade. And my sense is that we’re better off being honest about that.”
Alexander Lim, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Victoria (CCCV), said "most of us are aghast" by Mr Dutton's recent comments, which create "uneasiness" among the Chinese community.
"We felt that the stand or the position that Canberra, or rather Peter Dutton, is taking is really aggravating the tension between both countries, which is detrimental to the economy," he told SBS News.
"As well, there is a lot of unnecessary uneasiness among the Chinese community [of] how Australians view the Chinese community in Australia, [who] are citizens as well."
Jennifer Hsu, research fellow at the Lowy Institute, said Mr Dutton's recent comments broadly reflect the government's concern regarding China's increasing presence in the region.
Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Victoria President Alexander Lim. Source: Facebook, Supplied
"We know that Minister Dutton has taken a greater interest in the role of the United States in the region and is interested in maintaining US presence here in the region in the near future to ward off against the potential rise and aggression of China," she told SBS News.
"I think the comments also will sit uneasily with many Chinese-Australians who call Australia their home."
Raymond Lee, an accountant and CCCV member from Melbourne's outer suburbs, said he thinks it is "unnecessary, trying to pick a fight with China".
"He [Mr Dutton], in my view, in his policy and the various interviews he has, he is very against China," he said.
"I think it should be accorded the respect as the biggest trade partner of Australia," he said.
Ms Hsu said previous research has indicated that while Chinese-Australians are reflective of China's increasing presence in the region, they also believe there is potential to be gained from an economic partnership with China.
"I think Chinese-Australians are, on the whole, quite reflective and don't hold those kinds of dichotomous views; that you can only be one or the other, which I think Minister Dutton seems to suggest - that you either see China as a threat or as a partner," she said.
Erin Chew, co-founder of Sydney-based advocacy group Asian Australian Alliance, said the recent comments were "provocative" but not new or surprising.
"These types of comments have actually been made by other ministers and politicians from the different parties over the years," she said.
"What it misses is a lot of nuance, but also racial sensitivity."
Liberal Member for Reid Fiona Martin (second left) and Prime Minister Scott Morrison meet during a Lunar New Year Street Walk in Burwood Chinatown. Source: AAP
'There is this wariness'
Ms Chew acknowledged that Chinese-Australians hold different views, based on when they migrated to Australia and their Asian diaspora.
"There will be some who will be quite supportive of what [Mr] Dutton says ... then there will be others who are, what we call, pro-mainland China," she said.
"Then there are people who are in the middle - in that [they] understand there are diplomatic issues and disputes with that area [South China Sea].
"But we are concerned with the rhetoric and how these things are said."
SBS News has contacted Mr Dutton following his comments being reported on Monday, along with Labor's defence spokesperson Brendan O'Connor.
Last year, Mr Dutton attracted Penny Wong, following his declaration it would be "inconceivable" that Australia would not join the United States in a war to defend Taiwan against China.
Osmond Chiu, research fellow with independent think tank Per Capita, agreed that while Chinese communities are diverse, there is "wariness".
"From my own perspective, and friends of mine who I speak to, there is this wariness because of this spectre of war being constantly raised," he told SBS News.
"And, particularly over the last few years, there is a big concern about what the impact of this kind of rhetoric is having, and what might happen if tensions rise even further."
He said it is "a concerning and dangerous pattern of behaviour - not just from Minister Dutton but from the government more generally - where China is being brought up and spoken about for what seems to be for domestic political gain".
Could this have an impact on the upcoming election?
Mr Lee lives in the electorate of Chisholm in Melbourne's outer east, where around 20 per cent of constituents are of Chinese background. It's currently held by Liberal MP Gladys Liu, who is Hong Kong-born and narrowly defeated Taiwan-born Jennifer Yang in the 2019 federal election.
He said while Chinese-Australians are "usually pro-Liberal, because Liberal is traditionally pro-business overall", he will be changing his vote at the upcoming federal election.
"I won't be voting for Liberals, and I can also speak for good numbers of Chinese-Australians who have never voted for Labor prior. But in the coming election, they will be voting for Labor," he said.
Ms Liu told SBS News in a statement that the Chinese-Australian community is not homogenous, and that "as in any community, different people hold different opinions".
"It’s my job as the Member for Chisholm to listen to the views of all locals and take them to Canberra. What I can say for certain is that our government is serious about Australia’s security and about protecting Australia’s interests," she said.
"I think that people in Chisholm understand that, wherever they happen to come from."
Labor's candidate for Chisholm in the upcoming federal election, Carina Garland, has been contacted for comment.
Mr Lim agreed that the last two years "has changed a lot about the opinions or the attitude of voting preferences" among Chinese-Australians in seats such as Chisholm and Kooyong, which is held by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
"Certainly, it will have a major impact on both seats in terms of the voting patterns of the Chinese community," he said.
Mr Frydenberg has been contacted for comment.
"I think the tactics that [the government] is trying, to talk about China for electoral gain, might actually backfire for the government," Mr Chiu said.
Liberal member for Chisholm Gladys Liu (left) and, Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Source: AAP
Late last year, some Liberals . Liberal party sources had warned of discontent among Australians of Chinese heritage about commentary on Australia’s deteriorating relationship with Beijing.
Ms Hsu said Labor is also putting strategies in place to attract the Chinese-Australian vote.
"The [state] seat of Strathfield [in NSW], with Jason Yat-sen Li, is one indication that Labor is trying to make headway in these seats where there are a high proportion of voters who have ethnic Chinese heritage," she said.
