Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull advised by China to improve bilateral relations

CHINA has deployed the ‘p’ word — prejudice — in an official response to the Turnbull government’s proposed foreign interference laws.

CHINA has insisted it does not interfere in Australia’s domestic affairs and has urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to move to improve bilateral relations.

Just a day after Prime Minister Turnbull launched a fiery Question Time attack on Sam Dastyari over his dealings with Chinese Communist Party-linked businessman Huang Xiangmo, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has said Australia needs to act in a way more conducive to good relations between the two countries.

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China has been left unimpressed by Malcolm Turnbull’s overhaul of foreign interference laws. Picture: Kym Smith

Mr Turnbull did not specifically mention China as he announced a major overhaul of foreign interference laws yesterday but the Prime Minister’s mention of “disturbing reports about Chinese influence” has appeared to anger one of our most important neighbours.

The Guardian reports the Chinese foreign minister spokesman was unimpressed with the developing situation in Australia’s federal parliament.

“China develops its friendly relations with other countries on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and noninterference in internal affairs,” he told the publication.

“China does not interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs.

“We urge the relevant people in Australia to discard prejudice and speak and act more in a way that will be conducive to boosting the China-Australia relationship and deepening co-operation between them.”

The spokesman pushed for a “sound and steady” relationship between Australia and China, according to the Guardian.

Senator Dastyari refused to answer questions about his dealings with Mr Xiangmo when confronted by media at crossbench senator Derryn Hinch’s book launch yesterday.

Dastyari repeated multiple times “It’s Derryn Hinch’s day” as he tried to avoid reporters leaving the event.

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Labor Senator Sam Dastyari’s actions have put our relationship with China under the microscope. Picture: AAP

AUSTRALIA’S FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CRACKDOWN

Acts of political interference such as Senator Dastyari’s soliciting of a donation from Mr Huang would be outlawed under an update to Australia’s treason and espionage laws.

The Dastyari fiasco, China’s growing influence in world politics and Russia’s interference in the 2016 United States presidential election have led to the Turnbull government’s proposal to overhaul the laws.

“Foreign powers are making unprecedented and increasingly sophisticated attempts to influence the political process, both here and abroad,” Mr Turnbull said.

A new offence of intentional foreign interference will make it a crime for a person to engage in conduct on behalf of a foreign principal that will influence a political or governmental process (including opposition party policy) and is either covert or involves deception.

Attorney-General George Brandis said the conduct alleged against Senator Dastyari did not reach the threshold of current treason and espionage laws.

“That is why we are introducing, because of the gap in those laws, a new offence of unlawful foreign interference,” he said.