Liberal MP Jing Lee and Xinjiang Association of SA both deny connections to the Chinese Communist Party
The Xinjiang Association of SA has denied any links with the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department. MP Jing Lee also criticised the “baseless accusations” levelled at her.
SA News
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The organisation at the centre of extraordinary claims of Chinese influence over an Upper House MP has broken its silence on the issue.
Concerns over any potential links Liberal MLC Jing Lee may have with the Chinese Government, through her connection with the Xinjiang Association of South Australia, were raised by three Federal MPs last month.
But the association has strenuously denied it is associated with the Chinese Communist party in a letter sent to politicians and stakeholders.
It comes as Ms Lee says she is the victim of a “smear campaign” because she dared to run for President.
“Our Association is not in any way linked to the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front Work Department,” the Xinjiang Association of SA wrote.
“Our Association’s role is to provide community and social activities to support migrants and their families from Xinjiang as well as the broader Australian-Chinese community.”
The letter said the “non-profit and non-political” association had been “making social and economic contributions to multicultural community of South Australia and therefore should be treated with dignity and fairness”.
“We hope this letter provides sufficient information to clarify any misunderstanding about our SA-based Association,” it read.
Ms Lee, who unsuccessfully ran for the position of Upper House President this month, was forced to defend her work with various multicultural groups, including the Xinjiang Association of SA, which was accused of having links to the United Front Department.
The Department denies any persecution of China’s Uighur ethnic minority.
Earlier in September, senior federal Liberal MPs Tony Pasin, Nicolle Flint and Alex Antic sent a joint letter to the Liberal Party state executive requesting it investigates Ms Lee’s alleged connections to China.
“Given the federal government’s strong position on foreign interference, we consider any Liberal member who is reported to have links to the Chinese Communist Party and the United Front Work Department, is operating contrary to fundamentally important Liberal Party policy and Party principles,” the letter said.
Meanwhile, a right wing activist from Melbourne has attempted to inflame the issue with a online petition calling for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to investigate Ms Lee’s “apparent ties with the Chinese Communist Party”.
Morgan C Jonas posted the petition on his Facebook page, which has almost 9000 followers, on Monday.
Within about 24 hours, it had gained more than 400 signatures.
“China has been making many attempts to conduct influence campaigns in Australia, economically, culturally and also politically and the intentions are very nefarious,” he said.
“As a member of the Upper House we would like to think that her allegiance is to the people of South Australia and Australia as a country.”
Ms Lee said she was “victim of a smear campaign orchestrated using baseless allegations of links to the Chinese Community Party”.
“This all started because a female migrant MP with an Asian background like me, dared to have a go and seek the top job as the President of the Legislative Council,” she said.
“This type of bullying, racism, sexism is outrageous and should have no place in Australian society.”