Page 24 - The Giant Awakens - A Collection of Insights into Chinese Government Influence in Australia
P. 24
Influence Creep?
Australia Well-Equipped to Hold Its Own
ELENA Bu r g e o n i n g t r a d e , actually has had a great deal The point is has not been sufficiently
COLLINSON investment and people- of difficulty in doing in recent obvious: When rigorous or discerning, thus
to-people links have months. China is, I think, cases of nationalist potentially undermining
JAMES stirred debate about whether very unlikely to try to even agitation arise, Australian decision-making
LAURENCESON Australia has become leverage its economic influence Australian sovereignty.
vulnerable to Chinese in Australia through coercion universities still
Power only government influence. and is even less likely to possess the ready The 2015 sale of the
becomes influence succeed.’ ability to preserve lease to operate the Port of
when there is The Australian Trade academic freedom. Darwin to a Chinese private
evidence that a Commission notes that the last A survey of recent company is used as their
target country time Australia had a bilateral developments suggests this Australian Foreign Minister ba nner case. Yet a rev iew
has changed its trade relationship as significant conclusion – that Australia has Julie Bishop enunciated into the Port of Darwin sale
stance or policy as its one with China now was continued to be resistant to support for a position where saw leaders of Australian
to be more in line back in 1952-53 with the UK. Chinese influence – rings true. China’s rise is balanced by security agencies rejecting
with Beijing’s Australia is second only to the Certainly, deepening links an expanded US role in the wholesale the notion that
preferences. US as a host country for large- with China have not stopped Indo-Pacific region. She there was any possibility
scale Chinese overseas direct the Australian government even delivered the blunt national security could be
24 investment. And Mandarin from vigorously supporting the message that unless China compromised. In reference to
is now the second most US alliance or from criticising embraced democratic claims that operating the port
commonly spoken language the Chinese government. institutions and habits it could could facilitate spying by the
in Australia behind English. not be counted upon to resolve Chinese state, then-Defence
On the eve of his departure disagreements in accordance Secretary Dennis Richardson
Yet in contemplat ing to deliver a keynote address with international law, nor said, ‘These issues, when you
Chinese influence, Evelyn at the Shangri-La Dialogue could it hope to reach its examine them, melt like butter
Goh, Professor of Strategic in Singapore in June, Prime economic potential. sitting on a car bonnet on a hot
Studies at the Australian Minister Malcolm Turnbull day.’
National University (ANU) declared that the Australia- It is true that Australia
makes a crucial distinction: US alliance was ‘more has permitted substantial In 2016, the Australian
there is a difference between important than ever.’ This Chinese investment in critical Treasurer blocked the $10
power as resources and power was despite murmurings from infrastructure such as electricity billion sale of a 50.4 percent
as inf luence. As the world’s some prominent Australian networks and ports. Critics stake in Australia’s largest
second largest economy, voices about divergences have argued that the security energy network, Ausgrid to
and with the world’s largest in Australian interests and vetting of these investments two Chinese bidders, citing
population, China plainly values with the current US national security concerns. It
has resources. But power administration. And in a was reported that this decision
only becomes influence when leaked transcript of Prime was based on the unequivocal
there is evidence that a target Minister Turnbull’s January 28 advice of all Australia’s
country has changed its stance phone call with US President national security agencies. The
or policy to be more in line Donald Trump, the Prime Treasurer also blocked the sale
with Beijing’s preferences. Minister signed off with, of cattle empire S. Kidman &
‘You can count on me. I will Co. to a Chinese buyer on two
Despite apparently having be there again and again.’ occasions, simply stating that
both the means and motives, a More recently, the Prime he did not consider the sale in
2013 study of the effectiveness Minister said of the alliance Australia’s national interest.
of China’s economic statecraft in an August 11 interview, The sale was only approved
by University of Sydney ‘In terms of defence, we are after the bid was restructured
international relations expert joined at the hip.’ He reiterated and Chinese interests were
James Reilly highlighted that this in another interview on whittled down to a one-third
Australia had not proven September 6, stating, ‘Our minority stake.
vulnerable to Chinese alliance is absolutely rock
coercion. He returned to solid. We confirmed and In short, when the situation
this conclusion this year in a affirmed our alliance. We have warrants it, Australia seems
talk to the Australia-China America’s back. America has to have no qualms in rejecting
Relations Institute, stating, our back. We are joined at the Chinese investment. But it
‘Beijing hopes to foster a hip.’ also has sufficient confidence
domestic political climate in in its regulatory processes to
Australia that is supportive Earlier this year in welcome investment when it
of Chinese investment and two major speeches to serves the national interest.
trade, something that China international forums
Australia has also proven
2017 Vision Times Special Edition
Australia Well-Equipped to Hold Its Own
ELENA Bu r g e o n i n g t r a d e , actually has had a great deal The point is has not been sufficiently
COLLINSON investment and people- of difficulty in doing in recent obvious: When rigorous or discerning, thus
to-people links have months. China is, I think, cases of nationalist potentially undermining
JAMES stirred debate about whether very unlikely to try to even agitation arise, Australian decision-making
LAURENCESON Australia has become leverage its economic influence Australian sovereignty.
vulnerable to Chinese in Australia through coercion universities still
Power only government influence. and is even less likely to possess the ready The 2015 sale of the
becomes influence succeed.’ ability to preserve lease to operate the Port of
when there is The Australian Trade academic freedom. Darwin to a Chinese private
evidence that a Commission notes that the last A survey of recent company is used as their
target country time Australia had a bilateral developments suggests this Australian Foreign Minister ba nner case. Yet a rev iew
has changed its trade relationship as significant conclusion – that Australia has Julie Bishop enunciated into the Port of Darwin sale
stance or policy as its one with China now was continued to be resistant to support for a position where saw leaders of Australian
to be more in line back in 1952-53 with the UK. Chinese influence – rings true. China’s rise is balanced by security agencies rejecting
with Beijing’s Australia is second only to the Certainly, deepening links an expanded US role in the wholesale the notion that
preferences. US as a host country for large- with China have not stopped Indo-Pacific region. She there was any possibility
scale Chinese overseas direct the Australian government even delivered the blunt national security could be
24 investment. And Mandarin from vigorously supporting the message that unless China compromised. In reference to
is now the second most US alliance or from criticising embraced democratic claims that operating the port
commonly spoken language the Chinese government. institutions and habits it could could facilitate spying by the
in Australia behind English. not be counted upon to resolve Chinese state, then-Defence
On the eve of his departure disagreements in accordance Secretary Dennis Richardson
Yet in contemplat ing to deliver a keynote address with international law, nor said, ‘These issues, when you
Chinese influence, Evelyn at the Shangri-La Dialogue could it hope to reach its examine them, melt like butter
Goh, Professor of Strategic in Singapore in June, Prime economic potential. sitting on a car bonnet on a hot
Studies at the Australian Minister Malcolm Turnbull day.’
National University (ANU) declared that the Australia- It is true that Australia
makes a crucial distinction: US alliance was ‘more has permitted substantial In 2016, the Australian
there is a difference between important than ever.’ This Chinese investment in critical Treasurer blocked the $10
power as resources and power was despite murmurings from infrastructure such as electricity billion sale of a 50.4 percent
as inf luence. As the world’s some prominent Australian networks and ports. Critics stake in Australia’s largest
second largest economy, voices about divergences have argued that the security energy network, Ausgrid to
and with the world’s largest in Australian interests and vetting of these investments two Chinese bidders, citing
population, China plainly values with the current US national security concerns. It
has resources. But power administration. And in a was reported that this decision
only becomes influence when leaked transcript of Prime was based on the unequivocal
there is evidence that a target Minister Turnbull’s January 28 advice of all Australia’s
country has changed its stance phone call with US President national security agencies. The
or policy to be more in line Donald Trump, the Prime Treasurer also blocked the sale
with Beijing’s preferences. Minister signed off with, of cattle empire S. Kidman &
‘You can count on me. I will Co. to a Chinese buyer on two
Despite apparently having be there again and again.’ occasions, simply stating that
both the means and motives, a More recently, the Prime he did not consider the sale in
2013 study of the effectiveness Minister said of the alliance Australia’s national interest.
of China’s economic statecraft in an August 11 interview, The sale was only approved
by University of Sydney ‘In terms of defence, we are after the bid was restructured
international relations expert joined at the hip.’ He reiterated and Chinese interests were
James Reilly highlighted that this in another interview on whittled down to a one-third
Australia had not proven September 6, stating, ‘Our minority stake.
vulnerable to Chinese alliance is absolutely rock
coercion. He returned to solid. We confirmed and In short, when the situation
this conclusion this year in a affirmed our alliance. We have warrants it, Australia seems
talk to the Australia-China America’s back. America has to have no qualms in rejecting
Relations Institute, stating, our back. We are joined at the Chinese investment. But it
‘Beijing hopes to foster a hip.’ also has sufficient confidence
domestic political climate in in its regulatory processes to
Australia that is supportive Earlier this year in welcome investment when it
of Chinese investment and two major speeches to serves the national interest.
trade, something that China international forums
Australia has also proven
2017 Vision Times Special Edition
