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The China Files

June 2023

Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu says Australia’s increased defence capabilities will help deter a possible Chinese invasion of the 23 million-strong island democracy.

Taiwan does not fear Trump return to White House: foreign minister

Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu says he does not fear any security implications from a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House in 2024.

  • Gus McCubbing

October 2022

Pandemic restrictions have made it hard to make new friendships in China - but many are finding ways around that.

Dating apps are thriving in China – but not for romance

COVID-19 lockdowns have shifted relationships in China. So much so that many are turning to dating apps to find friends.

  • Chang Che and Zixu Wang

November 2020

China Zhenhua refers to its suite of databases as the Internet Big Data Military Intelligence System.

Chinese spies 'trawling LinkedIn for espionage targets'

Professional social media profiles and foreign students are fertile recruiting opportunities for Chinese spies, according to a former CIA chief.

  • Ronald Mizen and Angus Grigg

October 2020

Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger addresses the London-based think tank Policy Exchange.

White House: China's 'digital dossiers' to blackmail and intimidate

Donald Trump's top China specialist says the Zhenhua database revealed last month is only a small part of Beijing's foreign interference campaign.

  • Angus Grigg

September 2020

Huawei has slashed local investment in research and development by over $100 million, and will have jettisoned 1000 jobs by next year, a company spokesman says.

Huawei reveals $100m local cost of 'cold war'

Huawei is cutting its investment in Australia by $100 million and will axe 1000 local jobs as experts warn all sides will be hurt in the China-US tech war.

  • Paul Smith
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China is seeking to export its surveillance state to the world.

If you're not on the Zhenhua database don't be offended

Rather than targeting high-profile critics of Beijing, the database compiled by a Chinese military contractor is all about high technology and those with access to power.

  • Angus Grigg and Ronald Mizen
Scott Morrison with his family, claiming victory in the ballroom of the Sofitel Wenworth in Sydney.

MPs' families snared by Chinese military contractor

The entire federal cabinet and most of the shadow cabinet, along with many of their close family members, have been profiled by Chinese military contractor Zhenhua Data.

  • Ronald Mizen
The Zhenhua database includes Australian judges and their family members.

Judges' families profiled on China database

More than 100 family members of judges have been profiled by Chinese military contractor Zhenhua Data on its database of influential Australians.

  • Ronald Mizen and Michael Pelly
Michael Shoebridge from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said the power of open source data needs to be recognised.

China database tracks US nuclear scientists

The Zhenhua database contains extensive profiles on scientists linked to the US Navy, including those who have worked on nuclear submarines.

  • Angus Grigg
Former Macquarie Bank Executive Ian Robert Chalmers was jailed for 12 years.

Drug kingpins, fraudsters and a jailed banker on database

Hundreds of people smugglers, fraudsters, drug kingpins and a former Macquarie banker jailed for dealing ecstasy are named on a leaked Chinese database.

  • Angus Grigg
Australia's top judges appear on the China files.

Why China is interested in Australia's judges

Many of Australia's most senior judges have been included on the list of influential figures compiled by Chinese military contractor Zhenhua Data.

  • Ronald Mizen
RBA governor Philip Lowe, right, and deputy Guy Debelle are on a Chinese social warfare database.

Why RBA's Lowe and Debelle are on China's social warfare database

The true rationale behind Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe and deputy Guy Debelle's inclusion on a Chinese military contractor's social warfare database, may take years to fully understand.

  • Matthew Cranston
Super funds have to do more if they want to attract younger members. Good returns alone may not be enough.

We don't need China to polarise ourselves

China hardly needs to mine our data to help sow social discord. Western countries are doing a fine job of polarising themselves on social media.

  • Updated
  • Parnell Palme McGuinness
Gilmour Space Technologies co-founders Adam and James Gilmour have been extensively targeted.

How China's database targeted Australia's space industry

Leading figures in Australia's nascent space industry suspect their extensive profiling in a Chinese database can be linked to repeated cyber attacks, as Beijing seeks a technological advantage in the strategic sector.

  • Angus Grigg
The ACCC deadline for submissions was last Friday at 5pm.

Social giants must do more to stop intelligence 'scraping'

Experts say Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have continually failed to put in sufficient measures to stop misuse of their users' data and the spread of misinformation.

  • Paul Smith and John Davidson
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Zhenhua's website was taken down after questions were put to the company.

You're on the China list, now what?

If you're one of 35,000 Australians whose name appears on China's leaked social media warfare database, here's a few things to think about.

  • Ronald Mizen and Natasha Gillezeau
Queensland Liberal senator Amanda Stoker said China has the "capability and intent" to weaponise database.

China has capability and intent to weaponise database

The emergence of a Chinese database of 35,000 Australians is a "wake up call" to better protect our personal information.

  • Andrew Tillett and Angus Grigg
Tech stocks are cashing in on the surveillance economy.

How US and Chinese tech companies thrive on surveillance economy

There's money to be made backing those companies that can collect, collate and analyse data at scale and speed.

  • Robert Guy
Kayla Itsines, co-founder of fitness app SWEAT.

Are you in China's social warfare database?

A Chinese military contractor that boasts of spreading disinformation has compiled profiles on more than 35,000 Australians. We have extracted some of the key names here.

  • Angus Grigg
Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes with his family when the company was listed on the Nasdaq in 2015. Family details are among those collected for the database.

Why Mike Cannon-Brookes is on a Chinese military database

Mike Cannon-Brookes is rich, politically active and keen to share his views on Twitter. It makes the software billionaire an ideal target for those putting together a database of influential Australians.

  • Angus Grigg

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/the-china-files-1nit