Tony Abbott has admitted at the highest international level that Australia's policies towards China are driven by two emotions: "fear and greed".

The Prime Minister's candid appraisal of Australia's primordial motivations, given with a grin in private conversation with Germany's Angela Merkel last November, is a long way from the prolix platitudes of official documents.

Tony Abbott admits Australia's policies towards China are driven by two emotions: "fear and greed". Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

And it sits in awkward contrast with Mr Abbott's personal assertions of friendship, such as the one that he made to his Chinese counterpart the following day.

"It is a joy to have friends come from afar," said Mr Abbott, in the first line of his welcoming speech to President Xi Jinping to Parliament House on November 17, 2014.