China plays a quiet role as voters gear up for federal election

China has not been a defining feature of this election campaign. If anything, the shadow of Donald Trump — rather than Xi Jinping — has loomed over the contest between Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese. In the last election, many Chinese Australians swung behind Labor, blaming the Morrison government for the rapid deterioration in relations with Beijing. Since then, the Albanese government has moved to “stabilise” ties, while Mr Dutton has worked to rebuild ties with the Chinese Australian community. But while the diplomatic tone has softened, the tensions between the two countries have not disappeared, and could still shape…