Page 23 - The Giant Awakens - A Collection of Insights into Chinese Government Influence in Australia
P. 23
What Does China Say About
PRC Influence in Australia?
Jackson Kwok On June 5, 2017, ABC’s position by publishing another Writing in the Global Times, Chinese-Australian community.
Four Corners aired a commentary accusing Australia an Australian Chinese scholar A preliminary look shows that
Failure to program investigating of spying on the Chinese Xue Er was surprisingly critical Australia’s Chinese community
understand PRC government interference embassy in Australia. of the two businessmen who is conflicted and concerned
these [diverse] in Australia. The episode, featured in the Four Corners about the way the discussion is
perspectives, titled 'Power and Influence: Closer to home, local Chinese- program – Dr Chau Chak Wing heading. Failure to understand
combined with The hard edge of China’s soft language news outlets are and Huang Xiangmo. Xue Er these perspectives, combined
sensationalist power,’ accused the Communist divided on how to approach denounced Chau and Huang as with sensationalist reporting,
reporting, risks Party of China of attempting the issue. Known for its pro- ‘political opportunists’ who had risks isolating the community
isolating the to infiltrate Australia’s major PRC position, the popular sullied China’s image. If their and reinforcing the belief that
community and political parties. Since airing, Sydney Today (今日悉尼) was political grandstanding were to they are a minority under siege.
reinforcing the the controversial program has relatively muted on the subject. become mainstream, it would
belief that they are sparked a heated public debate It included no original reporting be ‘detrimental to the Party, the Recent coverage of the 2016
a minority under about the nature and extent of the Four Corners program, country, the people, and even Census results – including
siege. of PRC government influence nor did it run translations of provoke pointless disaster upon alarmist headlines from major
in Australia. But how exactly articles from the mainstream the local Chinese community’. newspapers – has only served
have China’s state media and media – its regular modus to reinforce this perception of
Chinese-language news outlets operandi. The only exceptions Rather than engage in ‘lazy, persecution and exclusion.
in Australia covered this were op-eds by former foreign irresponsible and dangerous’
discussion? minister Bob Carr and Professor patriotism that ‘perpetuated Within the local Chinese-
James Laurenceson from the suspicion amongst the local language commentary we can
Articles in the state-run Australia-China Relations p o p u l a t i o n ,’ t h e C h i n e s e also see efforts to address this
Xinhua News Agency (新华 Institute at the University of community needed to properly dilemma. In order to do so, the
社) and People’s Daily (人民日 Technology, Sydney. Sydney engage with the local discourse, Chinese-Australian community
报) referred only to the official Today instead relied on re-posts Xue Er wrote. This would must be able to engage in the
statement from the Ministry of of PRC state media and links to require ‘establishing effective wider debate taking place in
Foreign Affairs which deflected official statements by Chinese channels of communication Australia. This will require
any notion that the Communist Ambassador Cheng Jingye and with mainstream society, instead access to critical journalism
Party was actively attempting the Media Federation of Australia. of simply taking to the streets.’ in their native language. The
to influence Australian politics. Similarly, PRC government prevalence of PRC state media
The ministry spokesperson Other Australia-based departments needed to realise and absence of critical Chinese-
described Four Corners’ claims news outlets, however, have that steady integration of language journalism in popular
as ‘unfounded, extremely been more perturbed by the overseas communities into their domestic platforms such as
irresponsible, and not worth Four Corners episode. The adopted countries was the true Sydney Today are not conducive
refuting.’ independent Vision China Times path to ‘revitalising the Chinese to mutual engagement.
(看中国) ran an editorial which nation.’
The nationalist tabloid warned the Chinese-Australian The prevalence of
Global Times (环球时报) community ‘not to be too Though certainly not without PRC state media and
published an editorial which optimistic about (their) future’. its faults, the Four Corners absence of critical
dismissed the Four Corners The article stated that the actions program brought the critical Chinese-language
program as ‘based entirely on of a few had undermined the issue of PRC interference to the journalism...are not
speculation.’ It also called on credibility and reputation of the forefront of public discussion. conducive to mutual
Prime Minister Turnbull not greater Chinese community in But it has also highlighted a engagement.
to ‘humour this extreme and the eyes of the Australian public. clear disconnect between the
deliberately misleading report.’ While diplomatic ties could be Australian mainstream media
The editorial concluded that it repaired through ministerial and the Chinese-Australian
was actually Western nations meetings and mutual economic community.
which were guilty of attempting interest, they warned that ‘the
to infiltrate China and interfere pile of bills left by the storm of Rather than generalising,
in its domestic affairs. Last week, public opinion (would) be borne it is important to understand
Global Times reiterated this entirely by Chinese-Australians.’ the various perspectives of
a diverse and fragmented
The Giant Awakens: Chinese Government Influence in Australia Jackson Kwok is a research assistant
at China Matters.
For more information visit:
chinamatters.org.au/
23
PRC Influence in Australia?
Jackson Kwok On June 5, 2017, ABC’s position by publishing another Writing in the Global Times, Chinese-Australian community.
Four Corners aired a commentary accusing Australia an Australian Chinese scholar A preliminary look shows that
Failure to program investigating of spying on the Chinese Xue Er was surprisingly critical Australia’s Chinese community
understand PRC government interference embassy in Australia. of the two businessmen who is conflicted and concerned
these [diverse] in Australia. The episode, featured in the Four Corners about the way the discussion is
perspectives, titled 'Power and Influence: Closer to home, local Chinese- program – Dr Chau Chak Wing heading. Failure to understand
combined with The hard edge of China’s soft language news outlets are and Huang Xiangmo. Xue Er these perspectives, combined
sensationalist power,’ accused the Communist divided on how to approach denounced Chau and Huang as with sensationalist reporting,
reporting, risks Party of China of attempting the issue. Known for its pro- ‘political opportunists’ who had risks isolating the community
isolating the to infiltrate Australia’s major PRC position, the popular sullied China’s image. If their and reinforcing the belief that
community and political parties. Since airing, Sydney Today (今日悉尼) was political grandstanding were to they are a minority under siege.
reinforcing the the controversial program has relatively muted on the subject. become mainstream, it would
belief that they are sparked a heated public debate It included no original reporting be ‘detrimental to the Party, the Recent coverage of the 2016
a minority under about the nature and extent of the Four Corners program, country, the people, and even Census results – including
siege. of PRC government influence nor did it run translations of provoke pointless disaster upon alarmist headlines from major
in Australia. But how exactly articles from the mainstream the local Chinese community’. newspapers – has only served
have China’s state media and media – its regular modus to reinforce this perception of
Chinese-language news outlets operandi. The only exceptions Rather than engage in ‘lazy, persecution and exclusion.
in Australia covered this were op-eds by former foreign irresponsible and dangerous’
discussion? minister Bob Carr and Professor patriotism that ‘perpetuated Within the local Chinese-
James Laurenceson from the suspicion amongst the local language commentary we can
Articles in the state-run Australia-China Relations p o p u l a t i o n ,’ t h e C h i n e s e also see efforts to address this
Xinhua News Agency (新华 Institute at the University of community needed to properly dilemma. In order to do so, the
社) and People’s Daily (人民日 Technology, Sydney. Sydney engage with the local discourse, Chinese-Australian community
报) referred only to the official Today instead relied on re-posts Xue Er wrote. This would must be able to engage in the
statement from the Ministry of of PRC state media and links to require ‘establishing effective wider debate taking place in
Foreign Affairs which deflected official statements by Chinese channels of communication Australia. This will require
any notion that the Communist Ambassador Cheng Jingye and with mainstream society, instead access to critical journalism
Party was actively attempting the Media Federation of Australia. of simply taking to the streets.’ in their native language. The
to influence Australian politics. Similarly, PRC government prevalence of PRC state media
The ministry spokesperson Other Australia-based departments needed to realise and absence of critical Chinese-
described Four Corners’ claims news outlets, however, have that steady integration of language journalism in popular
as ‘unfounded, extremely been more perturbed by the overseas communities into their domestic platforms such as
irresponsible, and not worth Four Corners episode. The adopted countries was the true Sydney Today are not conducive
refuting.’ independent Vision China Times path to ‘revitalising the Chinese to mutual engagement.
(看中国) ran an editorial which nation.’
The nationalist tabloid warned the Chinese-Australian The prevalence of
Global Times (环球时报) community ‘not to be too Though certainly not without PRC state media and
published an editorial which optimistic about (their) future’. its faults, the Four Corners absence of critical
dismissed the Four Corners The article stated that the actions program brought the critical Chinese-language
program as ‘based entirely on of a few had undermined the issue of PRC interference to the journalism...are not
speculation.’ It also called on credibility and reputation of the forefront of public discussion. conducive to mutual
Prime Minister Turnbull not greater Chinese community in But it has also highlighted a engagement.
to ‘humour this extreme and the eyes of the Australian public. clear disconnect between the
deliberately misleading report.’ While diplomatic ties could be Australian mainstream media
The editorial concluded that it repaired through ministerial and the Chinese-Australian
was actually Western nations meetings and mutual economic community.
which were guilty of attempting interest, they warned that ‘the
to infiltrate China and interfere pile of bills left by the storm of Rather than generalising,
in its domestic affairs. Last week, public opinion (would) be borne it is important to understand
Global Times reiterated this entirely by Chinese-Australians.’ the various perspectives of
a diverse and fragmented
The Giant Awakens: Chinese Government Influence in Australia Jackson Kwok is a research assistant
at China Matters.
For more information visit:
chinamatters.org.au/
23
