‘Intimidatory’: Chinese government bullies NSW MPs over Taiwan

Eleven MPs from NSW attended a gala to celebrate the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president. Three days later, they all received an unexpected email from the Chinese consulate.

• Albo must stand up to Beijing bullies

The Chinese government has been caught trying to blatantly bully Australian politicians over the “Taiwan Question,” urgingthem to adhere to Beijing’s belief that “Taiwan is a province of China”.

The Daily Telegraph has obtained an extraordinary letter sent by an unnamed Chinese government official to 11 MPs, includingfederal Liberal frontbencher Paul Fletcher, after the politicians attended an event celebrating the inauguration of Taiwan’snew president.

The email, titled: “Concerns Regarding Attendance at the Taiwan-related Event,” was sent to every MP that attended the function in Rhodes last Monday.

The gala dinner was organised to celebrate the inauguration of Lai Ching-te as Taiwan’s president last week.

The galling email sent to 11 MPs said that the Consulate-General “firmly opposes” their attendance at the dinner.

Eleven politicians attended an event on May 20 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.

The email outlined China’s position on “the Taiwan Question,” insisting that “Taiwan is a province of China”.

The email criticised MPs for attending the Taiwan inauguration event, suggesting the politicians could be putting Australia’s ties with Beijing at risk.

“The Consulate-General hopes that you will adhere to the fact that “Taiwan is a province of China” and properly handle Taiwan-related issues with prudence and rein, so as to truly honor (sic) the one-China principle and avoid unnecessary interference or damage to the hard-earned momentum towards improving China-Australia relations,” the email said.


The email was sent by a Gmail account listed on the consulate’s website as the contact address for its “Political and Media affairs” section.

Chinese government officials appear to have sent the unsolicited correspondence after a photo was published online showing who attended last week’s function. The email was sent from a Gmail email address listed on the Consulate’s website as the contact for its “Political & Media Affairs” section.

Strategic Analysis Australia Founder and Director Michael Shoebridge said the correspondence was a “deliberate” act which was “hard not to see as intimidatory”.

“This is another example of the Chinese government trying to intervene to affect domestic policy making and decisions in Australia,” he said.

“This is not accidental intimidation, this is a deliberate state act.”

“What Australian MPs should do is adhere to Australia’s one-China policy … We acknowledge that its Beijing’s view that they have sovereignty over Taiwan but we’ve never agreed with that,” he said.

Premier Chris Minns said his MPs would not be bullied. Picture: NewsWire

Liberal Treasury spokesman Damien Tudehope received the email. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Premier Chris Minns said his MPs would not be “bullied” over what events they attend.

“We’re not going to be in a situation where any Labor MP is going to be bullied or intimidated about going to a function, that’s their job as a member of parliament,” he said.

Opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham said the email was “counter-productive” and “risks undermining the resumption of dialogue and engagement with China,” he said.

State government MP Hugh McDermott, who received the correspondence, said he was “extremely concerned” at the attempted interference.

“The dictates of the CCP have no place in Australian politics,” he said.

Independent MP Rod Roberts was shocked to receive the letter.

Independent MP Rod Roberts also got the email after attending.

“I find it both alarming and disturbing that a foreign power would try and influence what an elected parliamentarian can say and what events I could attend in my own country,” he said.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Damien Tudehope said he was “shocked” to get the email.

“This was a shocking interference to try to prevent an elected MP from engaging in a community event,” he said.

The other MPs who attended were all Liberals: Jordan Lane, Rachel Merton, Chris Rath, Tim James, Ray Williams, Jacqui Munro, and Mark Coure. Those MPs all confirmed they received the same email.

Revelations of the email come a week after Beijing blasted Australian MPs over a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan for the inauguration.

At the time, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade defended the trip.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Australia adheres consistently to our longstanding and bipartisan One China policy”. Ms Wong did not directly address the email sent by the Chinese consulate to MPs from NSW.

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Originally published as ‘Intimidatory’: Chinese government bullies NSW MPs over Taiwan