Bureaucrat raises ‘concern’ about Chinese government email to MPs

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australian politicians, not foreign governments, decide what events MPs do and do not attend at home.

A Chinese government letter to 11 Australian politicians uncovered by The Daily Telegraph has created a diplomatic stoush directly between Canberra and Beijing.

The Telegraph last week caught Beijing’s outpost in NSW trying to bully 10 state and one federal MP into parroting the Chinese government’s belief that “Taiwan is a province of China,” after the MPs attended a function to celebrate the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te.

The Chinese-Consulate General emailed all 11 MPs in the days after they attended the event urging them to “properly handle Taiwan-related issues with prudence and rein, so as to truly honor (sic) the one-China principle”.

The email warned that not adhering to Beijing’s view could put China-Australian relations at risk.

It can now be revealed that a senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade bureaucrat raised “concerns” with the Chinese Ambassador last week, a day after the Telegraph’s exposed the email.

Eleven politicians attended an event on 20 May, to celebrate the inauguration of Taiwan's new President. Four days later, they all received a letter from the Chinese Consulate in Sydney criticising their attendance. Picture: Supplied

“We have raised concerns with the Chinese embassy,” DFAT Deputy Secretary Elly Lawson told a Senate Estimates hearing on Monday.

“I can confirm that I raised this issue myself with the Chinese ambassador,” Ms Lawson said.

“Within our One-China policy, members of parliament are able to engage with Taiwan, and for that reason we raised the issue with the Chinese embassy,” Ms Lawson said, under questioning from Liberal Claire Chandler.

The email, obtained by the Telegraph. Picture: Supplied

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said no government should be telling Australian politicians which events they should or should not attend while in Australia.

“Australian parliamentarians determine who they meet, it’s a matter for them,” she said.

“Parliamentarians from both sides of politics have travelled to Taiwan, which is consistent … with our bipartisan one China policy.”

However, Ms Wong would not say whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will raise the issue with Chinese Premier Li Qiang when he is in the country this month.

“China is well aware of our view about the functioning of the Australian democracy,” Ms Wong said.

Ms Chandler said Mr Albanese should raise the matter directly with the Chinese Premier.

“If DFAT has raised a concern with a foreign government attempting to intimidate Australian MPs, the Prime Minister should show some leadership and raise it directly with his counterpart and be clear that it’s not acceptable,” she said.