Call for UN Secretary-General to probe Julie Bishop special envoy role over business dealings

The UN Secretary-General has been urged to investigate Julie Bishop’s past work with resource giants linked to a Chinese state-owned resource company.

Human rights organisation Justice for Myanmar has urged the United Nations chief to conduct a review of Julie Bishop’s appointment as a Special Envoy over her business links with A Chinese state-owned resource company.

Ms Bishop was appointed as Special Envoy to Myanmar by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in April 2024, amid the nation’s ongoing and deadly civil war, which began in 2021.

The southeast Asian country, which remains under military dictatorship, has repeatedly been condemned by the UN for violations of international law and human rights abuses against the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority.

Human rights organisation Justice for Myanmar has called for an investigation into Julie Bishop’s UN special envoy role amid concerns over her business dealings with companies connected to Beijing. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Justice for Myanmar spokesman Yadanar Maung flagged “serious concerns” about Ms Bishop’s work with Energy Transition Minerals (ETM) on the Greenland-based, large-scale rare earth Kvanefjeld Project.

ETM announced Ms Bishop as a strategic advisor of the project on January 13, 2025 through her consultancy firm Julie Bishop and Partners, a role which includes strategic advice, stakeholder engagement and government relations.

Justice for Myanmar said the project is linked to mining giant Shenghe Resources, which is a major shareholder of ETM, and part owned by the Chinese government.

Ms Maung said this was concerning with China being “one of the Myanmar military’s biggest arms suppliers,” and urged Mr Guterres to investigate.

NewsWire does not suggest Ms Bishop is aware of these links.

“Through its supply of arms and funds to the Myanmar military, the Chinese government is aiding and abetting ongoing war crimes and crimes against humanity,” she said.

“We urge the United Nations Secretary General to urgently open an investigation into Julie Bishop’s business activities, consider the appropriateness of her continued UN engagement, and disclose the findings.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been asked to investigate Julie Bishop’s business dealings with companies linked to Chinese-state owned resource firms. Picture: Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP

ETM is also suing the Greenland and Danish government for the right to mine, or receive $US$11.5bn (AU$18.3bn) after the Greenland government banned uranium mining in 2021.

The compensation amount is nearly four times Greenland’s gross domestic product.

Upon Ms Bishop’s appointment as the UN’s special envoy on Myanmar, Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed the news, and reiterated Australia’s support of to the people of Myanmar.

“The Special Envoy plays a vital role in sustaining international attention and supporting co-ordinated efforts towards a peaceful resolution in the interests of the people of Myanmar,” she said in a statement.

“Australia will work closely with Ms Bishop as United Nations Special Envoy, ASEAN and the international community to deploy our collective efforts to build conditions for sustainable peace in the country.”

Ms Bishop and Mr Guterres have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Call for UN Secretary-General to probe Julie Bishop special envoy role over business dealings