澳大利亚公众的中国观是澳对华关系的晴雨表。长期以来，澳大利亚主流民意肯定中国经济实力位居世界前列。澳大利亚人视中国为亚洲地区最好的朋友、最重要的经济贸易伙伴；这一点在中青年群体中的表现尤为明显。美国长期被视为澳大利亚最重要的军事安全盟友，也是与澳大利亚有着共享价值观的世界强国。近十年来，澳大利亚人认为来自中国过多的投资和中国在南海等地区问题上的强硬表现导致澳大利亚人对中国产生防御性心理，认为必须通过加强与美国的同盟关系来维系澳大利亚国家安全。综合来看，澳大利亚人在中美两国之间奉行两种价值判断取向，即拥抱中澳经济合作的同时，利用美国来抑制中国发展对澳大利亚可能带来的安全威胁。
The Australian perception of China offers one solution to the current dilemma of Sino-Australia relations.China has been the largest trade partner of Australia，and Australia one major trade partners of China in recent decades.The majority of the Australian see China as global economic leader and the only country to overtake the U.S.as the global power in the next 20 years.To the Australian，especially the younger generation，China has always been the best friend in Asia and the most important trade partner in the world.However，the challenge should never be ignored that almost one third of Australians see China as“a military threat”in the next 20 years and almost half condemn Australian government accept too much investment from China.Thus，the importance of Australia-the U.S.alliance should been strengthened for the possible threat from China in the future.
