澳洲是位在亞洲的西方國家。在澳洲總人口數約2300萬人中，將近有8成的澳洲人在家僅說英語，移民人口的結構使澳洲政府長期以來在對外關係上以英、美國家意見為主；地理位置卻又迫使澳洲不得不重視與亞洲國家的關係。面對中國的崛起，澳洲在亞太架構中與中國的關係會是如何發展?本文試著從層次分析的角度去探討澳洲的中國政策。筆者認為，不論澳洲哪一個政黨執政，作為亞洲唯一的西方國家，有著強大的經濟力量與穩定的政治制度，與美國同盟且積極參與亞太事務是澳洲不可避免的選擇。澳洲曾涉入東帝汶的駐軍，在伊拉克與阿富汗戰爭中也出兵協助美國。由於中國仍算是亞太強國，中、澳的理位置並不相鄰，澳洲與中國也沒領土爭議，澳洲在對中國關係拿捏上，又要顧慮它近70萬的華人以及中國的市場。爰此，澳洲的中國政策會很理性的去計算現實主義與經濟理性主義的平衡。

Australia is a Western country located in Asia. In its total population of 23 million people, nearly 80 percent of Australians speak English at home. The immigrant population structure forces the Australian government to form its foreign policy in accordance with Britain and the United States. However, the geographic location also drive Australia to values its relations with Asian countries. Facing the rising power of China, How do Australia-China relations develop under the framework of Australia-Asia-Pacific relations? This article tries to explore Australia's China policy from the viewpoint of levels-of-analysis. The author argues that as Asia's only Western country with strong economic strength and stable political system, allying with the US and actively participate in Asia-Pacific affairs are inevitable choice for Australia, regardless of which political party come into power. Australian troops have been deeply involved in East Timor turmoil and sent troops to render assistance to the US in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since China is still regarded as the Asia-Pacific rising power, Australia's geographic location is not adjacent with China, nor do they have territorial disputes, when dealing with Australia-China relations, the nearly 700 thousand Chinese in Australia and the huge China markets must be taken into account by Australian government. Thereupon, Australia's China policy will be very rational to calculate the balance between political realism and economic rationalism.