As the above analysis of Australian literature demonstrates,the Chinese aim to comprehensively elevate relations with Australia does not appear to be matched by that of the Australians�盩his is probably largely attributable to the enormous gap in worldviews,political values and security concerns�盚owever,both Chinese and Australian literature seems to miss some important elements of their complex interdependence(the theory of complex interdependence in IR on which this book is based is to be expounded in the next chapter)�盕or example,some Chinese scholars,such as Wu Rong�睮(Wu Rong�睮 et al��2007,p��156),have argued that interdependence brings much more economic cooperation and trade,“creating more potential for positive interactions between countries,which not only serves as a catalyst for international cooperation,but also a deterrent to future conflicts”��
　　In the context of economic interdependence,these Chinese scholars appear to focus more on the state�瞭o�瞫tate cooperation brought about by economic interdependence and tend to overlook the fact that intensified economic relations and trade do not necessarily bring about a good political and security relationship�盕or example,even though Britain and Germany engaged in enormous trade and economic cooperation before WWI and WWII,this failed to prevent them from entering two world wars�盩he Chinese overemphasis on cooperation helps explain why they‘feel at a loss’when their relations with Australia suffered such setbacks as those in 2009 when China and Australia had fierce political,economic and diplomatic skirmishes(Lan 2009)��
　　The Chinese overemphasis on cooperation also helps explain why the Chinese“feel at a loss”when some U�盨�盜R scholars and analysts(e�眊�盡earsheimer 2006,p��160),believe that a major clash between China and the U�盨�眎s almost inevitable despite their unprecedentedly enormous trade volume and economic interdependence�盩hese scholars seem to be preoccupied with the traditional realist theory of IR that“international politics,like all politics,is a struggle for power�盬hatever the ultimate aims of international politics maybe,power is always the immediate aim”(Morgenthau 1966,p��25)and the Cold War mentality that“China�餾 growing strength will generate a parallel to the Cold War standoff and perhaps a hegemonic war”(Glaser 2011,p��80)�盩hat is why Mearsheimer confidently concluded that in his views,a major clash between China and the U�盨�眎s inevitable and advised that the U�盨�眘hould retain its primacy by avoiding invasions of Arab and Islamic nations and moving to balance the rise of China(Kelly 2010)��
　　This belief in the inevitable China�睻S conflict is further intensified by Australia�餾 memory of the two world wars and the decades of Cold War in which Australia constantly sided with the U�盨�眛o fight against nearly all the newly rising powers,such as Germany,Japan and the Soviet Union�盨ome decision�瞞akers and scholarly writers thereby view Australia�餾 alliance with the U�盨�盿s the bedrock of Australian foreign policy and have demonstrated their inclination to strengthen their military alliance with the U�盨�盿gainst the perceived‘China threat’(Yu Changsen 2010,p��129)�盇gainst this backdrop,China�餾 willingness to intensify its relations with Australia is frequently viewed as an attempt to‘drive a wedge into Australian�睞merican relations’(Malik 2007,p��587)�盩he incompatible perceptions between China and Australia may serve as a reminder to both nations that they should attach equally significant importance to their differences and common interests in the context of complex interdependence�盩his is because the perceptions of both nations may not be right,but they matter qualitatively,as IR is more often than not based on misperceptions��
　　It is in the context of complex interdependence also that this book concentrates on studies of the China�睞ustralia relationship by investigating the geopolitical and economic dynamics that have motivated China and Australia to overcome their radical divisions and move from historical antagonism and military confrontation to economic and strategic partnership�盉y analysing the China�睞ustralia relations over the past half�瞐�瞔entury,this book makes the following argument:despite radical divergence in political,cultural and other realms,both realism(strategic interests in maintaining peace)and liberalism(economic interests in seeking prosperity and welfare)help to shape a relationship of complex interdependence between China and Australia��
　　This book specifically argues that the complex interdependence between China and Australia is by no means a“marriage of convenience”�盜nstead,it will remain a hallmark in China�睞ustralia relations for a long time�盩his is because their interdependence is a logical outcome of globalisation and economic integration,which are beyond any individual political leader�餾 capability to control,halt or reverse�盉ased on these views,this book goes a step further to explore,using the China�睞ustralia relationship as a case study,how nations with relationships of complex interdependence can deal with their differences and achieve win�瞱in cooperation for their nations’prosperity and people�餾 well�瞓eing through effective interaction�盜t concludes that the strategy of seeking and widening common interests while prudently hedging,managing and narrowing differences helps stabilise and extend China�睞ustralia relations of cooperation……