Chinese-Australians distance themselves from Hobart City Council candidate Yongbei Tang

CHINESE-Australians living in Hobart have joined to denounce a Hobart City Council candidate with alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party.

Hobart City Council Candidate Yongbei Tang. Picture: CHRIS CRERAR

CHINESE-AUSTRAlians living in Hobart have joined to denounce a Hobart City Council candidate with alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party.

Ten people from Hobart’s Chinese community have signed a letter distancing themselves from Yongbei Tang as the former Multicultural Council of Tasmania treasurer fights to become an alderman.

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The signatories — who wished to remain anonymous — shared with the Mercury their love for Australian culture and values.

“Recently there has been negative news about Chinese and as a result our community is now experiencing forms of racism,” the letter said.

“Several of us have [experienced] slurs such as ‘Why do you Chinese endorse a candidate related to the Communist party’.

“Four years ago, there were two candidates from the Chinese community standing for aldermen of Hobart City Council.

“No people criticised or questioned them or their loyalty to our Australia, or any hidden agenda with the Communist party, because they never had anything to hide.

“It is important Hobart voters understand that Chinese candidate Yongbei Tang does not represent the majority of the Chinese community in Hobart.

“We, the undersigned, do not endorse … her hiding of titles of many organisations including her association with the Chinese government.”

Ms Tang, an Australian citizen and Tasmanian resident of 20 years, has repeatedly denied she has links to the Chinese Communist Party, despite her former and apparent current membership of several party or Chinese government-linked groups. This included a stint on the board of the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China, which, according to its registration, “insists on the one China principle [and] opposes all words and actions of splitting the land and sovereignty of China”.

University of Tasmania Chinese Studies senior lecturer Mark Harrison said the group’s position was in line with the Chinese government’s stance on Taiwan but at odds with the Australian government’s one China policy. Ms Tang has previously said she quit the board because she realised it was troublesome.

Ms Tang on Friday pointed out she was the president of the Chinese Cultural Society of Tasmania “which has existed for more than 10 years”.

“I am also a writer and write on my social media every day,” Ms Tang said.

An article attached to Ms Tang’s magazine, Chinese News Tasmania, published last month accused Tasmanian media of “throwing mud” at the would-be alderman because it was scared of a rise in the Chinese community.

“We need to put a nail in Tasmania’s politics. And add another one four years later,” that article said.