Explosive report reveals extent of China’s Aussie influence
The power and influence wielded by a Chinese Communist Party-linked group is so great its operatives should be denied visas, a new report has revealed. It comes amid concern over the Andrews Government’s commitment to the controversial Belt and Road deal.
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A landmark report on the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front interference and influence operation argues its operatives should be denied visas by the Australian Government.
A revamped conflict of interest policy for public servants, a national security defence for defamation cases and the enforcement of foreign interference laws are also on the agenda to combat the United Front’s activities in Australia.
It comes amid revelations about connections between Victorian Labor figures and United Front-linked groups, and criticism of the Andrews Government for its decision to back China’s controversial Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst Alex Joske’s report, to be released on Tuesday, reveals how the United Front controls several Chinese-language media outlets in Australia for “propaganda efforts targeting the Chinese diaspora”.
He called on the government to support the Chinese-Australian community with grants and advertising dollars for independent Chinese-language media, journalism scholarships for Chinese students and new laws to maintain freedom of speech on Chinese-run social media.
While Mr Joske recommended rejecting visas for United Front operatives, some of those involved in Victorian organisations are already believed to be Australian citizens.
Mr Joske’s report also detailed how the United Front network — including in Australia — was mobilised during the coronavirus crisis to gather scarce medical supplies and send them back to China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has elevated the status of the United Front, calling it a “magic weapon” for the Communist Party.
Mr Joske, who described its work as “quite mature” in Australia, said it was designed to target community groups, universities, media outlets and political and business leaders.
He said officials were seeking “co-opt, control and install community leaders, community groups, business associations and media” in countries including Australia.
“We should expect the Chinese Communist Party’s foreign interference to grow in its global scale, intensity and brazenness,” Mr Joske said.
The report found about a dozen members of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China — a top United Front body — had either stood for election in Australia or worked as political staffers.
Mr Joske said major accounting firms were also targeted, explaining how a Deloitte executive linked to the United Front appeared at an infrastructure forum in Melbourne in 2017 and warned Australia’s refusal to sign up to the Belt and Road plan was hurting businesses.
The controversy over gambling junkets for Chinese high rollers to Crown casino showed how the United Front was also connected to organised crime groups, Mr Joske said.
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