Tasmanian Chinese group rejects claim article it reposted incites violence

A Tasmanian Chinese group says an article denouncing protesters as thugs didn’t advocate execution.

Master Xin De Wang.

The head of a Tasmanian Chinese group has defended its apparent reposting of an article denouncing Hong Kong protesters as thugs, but denies the diatribe advocates their execution.

Xin De Wang, president of the Australian Tasmania Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, appeared to confirm the group had reposted an article on WeChat since referred to Tasmania Police.

However, Master Wang, as the Hobart-based leader of a Buddhist sect is known, rejected claims by China analysts that the same article called for people to inflict the death penalty on the pro-democracy crusaders.

State Greens leader Cassy O’Connor referred the reposting to police, claiming it could incite violence between pro-democracy and pro-Beijing students at the University of Tasmania.

Premier Will Hodgman today backed a police investigation. “Clearly, it is important that anyone using social media needs to do so in a way that does not incite anything untoward or unsavoury in our community,” Mr Hodgman said. “So those matters need to be properly investigated.”

Master Wang told The Australian the controversy was based on a misunderstanding of an ancient Chinese character that had many “context-dependent” meanings.

“As it was used in ancient times, one of its possible meanings was ‘kill’,” he said. “However … it was only applicable in the context of an emperor killing a courtier.

“It is inapplicable between equal citizens — the context in which it is used in the article … Instead, here it is most appropriately understood as ‘to denounce’, ‘to criticise’, or ‘to advise’.

“As a Buddhist, I neither condone nor recommend violence. Rather, I pray for this situation (in Hong Kong) to be peacefully resolved as soon as possible. In all honesty, it breaks my heart to see the situation unfold on the television.”

China watchers and local politicians expressed concern at the online activity of the Tasmanian group, which appears to be the local chapter of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

That body denies persistent claims by China experts of links to the Chinese Communist Party and was previously headed by billionaire property developer and political donor Huang Xiangmo, who in February had his Australian visa cancelled.

Alex Joske, an analyst at the Australia Strategic Policy Institute’s International Cyber Policy Centre, said the Tasmanian group’s reposting of such an inflammatory article using a word linked to “execution” was “incredibly disturbing”.

“Even if they argue it’s not intended to mean ‘kill’, it’s pretty nasty and definitely a lot stronger than just ‘punish’,” Mr Joske said.

“It reflects how the Chinese government has really sought to localise all of these CCP-linked groups around the world to support its actions in Hong Kong and seek to cast genuine protesters as violent thugs.”

The Weekend Australian last year revealed Xin de Wang had used a local radio broadcast to urge Australian Chinese to follow Beijing "in everything we do".

Ms O’Connor said the reposting raised concerns for the safety of Hong Kong students at UTAS, where a wall of pro-democracy material had already been twice torn down.

“This is an alarming development, which will send a shudder of fear through every Tasmanian-based international student from Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China who support freedom for Hong Kong,” Ms O’Connor said.

“The safety of Hong Kong students protesters at UTAS is now in question. The Premier must do everything within his power to ensure these students feel safe in our community.”