Is there anything China can do to draw criticism from Anthony Albanese?In 2023, Albanese travelled to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jin Ping claimed that the two nations were “partners of mutual trust and fulfillment.” But some weeks earlier, ASIO just deported a Chinese spy? What will it take for the Prime Minister to see that he’s being played for a fool?
Albanese should have publicly put the CCP on notice for this egregious act of espionage. Just a few weeks earlier, head of ASIO, Mike Burgess declared at the Five eyes Intelligence public meeting at Stanford University that:
“The Chinese government is absolutely the biggest threat we face”
If the head of ASIO is saying that China is our biggest threat, then why wasn’t this at the forefront of discussion with the Chinese in China? According to the ASIO chief Mike Burgess:
“The plot involved a visiting professor, a genuine academic who had also been recruited by Chinese intelligence…their spymaster gave them money and a shopping list of intelligence requirements and sent them to Australia.”
When the head of your national intelligence agency is saying one thing and a country’s leader is saying another, you know things are in disarray. Albanese lacks the backbone to stand up to China, but kowtowing to the CCP will only make things worse in the long run.
Nevertheless, the Albanese government has been in rhetoric overdrive. On Australia’s relationship with China, Foreign Minister, Penny Wong claimed:
“Before the election we said to the Australian people we would work to stabilize the relationship with China without compromising our sovereign interests and that’s what we’ve done.”
It sounds nice, but Wong is wrong. Not only did we fail to put China on notice for egregious acts of espionage, we fed China’s arrogance by remaining silent on the public stage. Wouldn’t you assume that the Australian people would want to hear that this kind of behavior is unacceptable, rather than hearing patent falsehoods like, “we are partners of mutual trust”?
Its not the first time Chinese spies have infiltrated Australia either
Wang Li Jiang recently attempted to claim asylum after revealing that he was working for the CCP in acts of espionage within Australia. He has since lost his visa grant to remain in Australia.
The problem of Chinese spies is nothing new. Over a decade ago, Chinese defector, Chen Yonglin claimed that China had over ‘1000 spies operating in Australia.’
And why are the Chinese allowed to have it both ways?
The CCP is quick to deny any allegation against it’s brutal regime yet, when any undermine its national interests, China cries victim. Remember the testy exchange between Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Xin Ping? Jin Ping confronted the Canadian PM in response to “leaked conversations.” Ironic as it is, the CCP leader demands respect on the international stage yet ruthlessly advances China’s interests however he likes.
Trudeau attempted to flatter Xin Ping with political rhetoric when Xin Ping insisted “let’s create the conditions of trust first”
I would submit that President Xi Jin Ping has prior knowledge of most if not all of China’s espionage efforts abroad.
The China war doctrine was authored in a book co-authored by Chao Xian Zhan: Dui Quanqiu Hua Shidai Zhanzheng yu Zhanfa de Xiangding (Warfare Beyond Rules: Judgement of War and Methods of War in the Era of Globalisation)
So how should we understand China’s long term ambitions?
Well, has answered that philosophical question, they will wage a war on all fronts, including, intelligence, economic, psychological, terrorism, diplomatic, financial, trade, smuggling and the list goes on. It would be a “warfare beyond all boundaries. “
And we have seen the fruits of their ruthless efforts. In 2018, the Turnbull government banished Huawei and ZTE from the 5G broadband network after it was revealed that these networks were being used to spy on Australian users. Closer to home, China has engaged in a takeover of the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands are 2000 North East of Australia. In a recent deal with the Solomon Islands, China will work closely with the small nation on “law enforcement and security matters.” The CCP is also responsible for the fentanyl epidemic in the United States, providing the drug to the Sinoloa cartels for mass distribution in the U.S.
On the social media front, China has invested heavily in its tech war, targeting U.S. citizens, politicians, and businessmen. It also came under heavy fire when it was discovered that the application had been used to spy on citizens and collect personal data. The U.S and other countries, including Australia, have now banned it from their official tech devices.
The Chinese have also bought off and paid for small nations. After accruing billions in debt, the Bank of China has covered its debt. Recent reports suggest China is now looking to invest in a two billion dollar navy base at Hambontota port. China has also formed strong military alliances with six African countries.
How much evidence does the Australian Government need to understand the danger of the Chinese war doctrine?
They are engaged in an ‘any means necessary’ war on all fronts and the only rule for the CCP is that there are no rules, and weak Western leaders only enable their ruthless efficiency. In the 1999 Hollywood hit, The Mummy, Benny the petty thief, pledges loyalty to the resurrected Mummy, he exclaims“ It is better to be at the right hand of the devil than in his path. As long as I serve him, I am immune” Albo’s unconditional subservience to China, whether because of fear, ineptness or confusion, will only harm us in the long term.
