How pervasive is China’s growing influence in Australia and how willing is Canberra to push back? The short answer: highly and not so much.
Australian real estate agents rolled out the red carpet for wealthy Chinese, including with limousine tours and helicopter rides, seeking to purchase multi-million dollar properties over the recent Golden Week travel period.
Foreign property buying has become an increasingly politicized issue, one that regulators have tackled through tax increases and other changes on foreign property ownership including penalties for leaving properties vacant that have tangentially hit the growing number of Chinese national home owners.
Although largely unspoken, Australia is grappling with how to best manage its Chinese influx. China is currently Australia’s largest trade partner, fifth largest investor and top foreign student market.
Chinese tourists spent over US$31.8 billion Down Under in the first half of this year, accounting for a quarter of all tourist spending. Mandarin is now the second most spoken language in Australia, trailing only English, according to a 2016 census.
But while China is increasingly important to the Australian economy, the terms of exchange are under growing scrutiny, including the largely misunderstood notion of China’s exercise of so-called ‘soft power.’
As China’s influence grows, there is little that resembles traditional concepts of soft power, or overtures that entice others to voluntarily adopt a common viewpoint.
That was witnessed in Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s warning earlier this week to Chinese students enrolled at Australian universities to respect others’ freedom of speech after a series of incidents pitting students versus professors on touchy territorial issues related to China.
It has been a decade since former Chinese leader Hu Jintao began to implement Chinese soft power as an outward-looking approach, a policy current leader Xi Jinping has extended with harder edges and a wider vision.
In Australia, China’s power is exercised through a complex mix of influence-peddling, political donations, infrastructure development, agricultural purchases, media influence (both in Mandarin and English), oversight of Chinese students and plain espionage.
Reports earlier this year revealed that two ethnic Chinese billionaires who had donated millions of dollars across Australia’s political spectrum in recent years may in fact be Chinese state agents.
Unlike the United States and Europe, where direct political donations are banned, Australia still allows foreign donations. And Beijing seems increasingly keen to translate its economic power into political clout, including via big expenditures on pro-China propaganda.
Those efforts have paid off more in some parts of the world than others. Direct efforts in Australia via the bland ‘China Watch’ paid lift-out in Fairfax Media publications may have put a scare into independent-minded journalists, but the product has had negligible effect in advancing China’s state aims.
China’s increasingly assertive foreign policies, poor human rights record and anti-democratic political system still undermine its local image, even as China is generally well-liked.
Australian foreign affairs think thank the Lowy Institute yearly polls have found that most Australians value Chinese food, culture and people, but distrust the country’s political system and general lack of transparency.
Merriden Varrall, a China expert and director of the Lowy’s East Asia Program, says the idea of Chinese soft power is used “a little indiscriminately” and attempts to categorize the behavior into pre-existing categories shows a “lack of imagination.”
She said in Australia’s case it’s important “to see clearly which are individual desires and state desires and the interactions between these.”
It’s often a blurred image as concerns rise about Chinese state influence at Australian universities. There are currently 33 Australian Studies centers at higher education institutions in China. Beijing is simultaneously bidding to boost its cultural footprint in Australia through the establishment of at least 16 Confucius Institutes.
However, it seems some of China’s strongest inroads have been made not into Australia’s so-called Anglosphere, but rather its existing Chinese diaspora – from students to migrants to new Chinese homeowners in swish urban neighborhoods.
A strong majority of the 59 Chinese language newspapers serving that community are all notably pro-Beijing, in line with Xi Jinping’s soft power call to “better communicate China’s message to the world.” Some of those who have taken a contrarian view have been directly targeted by Beijing.
Feng Chongyi, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, was held for ten days by Chinese officials after a research trip to China earlier this year. The harassment likely stemmed from his open criticism of China’s rising role in Australia, including state control over civil society organizations and higher learning institutes at Australian universities.
“China’s influence has succeeded in shaping public perceptions and opinions about China, and even government policies toward China,” said Feng. “Even my freedom in Australia is increasingly under threat from China’s ‘soft power,’’’ he recently wrote.
Lowy’s Varrall, meanwhile, wrote a recent op-ed for the New York Times that examined Chinese surveillance of Chinese students in Australia, a rising phenomenon she suggested leads to self-censorship to stay in line with Beijing’s orthodox views for fear of possible reprisal upon returning home.
All China worries are not the same. The real fear of Chinese cyber-hacking – government sponsored or not, it has occurred in other nations like the Philippines or Vietnam – differs from the hubbub caused by revelations that Chinese billionaire Li Ruipeng gifted Rolex watches to Australian politicians and their wives.
But political donations made by wealthy Chinese property developers Chau Chak Wing and Huang Xiangmo. according to an Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) investigation totaling around US$5 million, have drawn parallels to Russia’s influence in America’s electoral politics.
ASIO issued a warning about the donations as early as 2015, but they nonetheless continued.
Chau Chak Wing also funded the University of Western Sydney’s Frank Gehry building in 2014 and owns The Australia New Express Daily, a Chinese language publication that prides itself on glowing coverage of China and its ruling Communist Party.
That persistently positive coverage has been the subject of a Sydney Morning Herald investigation.
More direct attempts to influence Australian politics have failed dismally, putting a harsh spotlight on Beijing’s often bald bids at political manipulation. Australian Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was caught up in a cash-for-comment scandal last year after it was revealed Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo paid some of the lawmaker’s legal bills.
Dastyari later told a press conference that Australia should stay out of all territorial disputes in the South China Sea, essentially contradicting his own party’s foreign policy and advocating one of Bejing’s most controversial policies.
The case had serious implications for the New South Wales senator, who lost his shadow cabinet position, but he is not the only and likely not the last politician to benefit from China’s largesse.
Despite the controversy, Australian lawmakers have not moved to pass new laws against foreign political donations. There are wider calls, however, among Australia’s allies – namely the US, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Canada – to develop a collective response to Chinese state intrusion on academic freedoms on their campuses.
China’s influence in Australia will inevitably grow as the two nations become more integrated through trade, investment and other exchanges. But as the spotlight grows on how China exerts its rising influence and power in Australia, that integration process will not be as smooth in future as it was previously.
Varrall says Australia and China are still learning from each other. “They want us to feel less tightly aligned with the US,” says Varrall, “[but] they find it difficult to understand that a lot of the alignment is based on shared values, that we see things in the same way.”
Just tell chinese to go away, problem solved! ok? don’t be hypocritical and pathetic. Chinese government doesn’t want their students to be brainwashed by Australian western idology too!
they protested because an India ethnic lecturer use a India map to claim a terrority which is also claimed by China in classroom at Australia university where many Chinese students attended. even Australia govenment don’t take side on that issue! Did that sound like Chinese government interference Australia freedom to interference China’s soverignty? more looked likely! the Australia right wing american puppets want dearly to lick American’s ass! they want to be American’s dog at Asia to counter China while it’s own economy life line hanging on! what a moron arrogent political correctness choice. i suggestion China just block students come to Australian so they don’t need to worried they are been brain washed by so-called supiror western vaule!
You want there money, but you don’t want them?
Indeed. Ignorance of an academic is not an excuse. Any patriot of any country has a right to protest just if an Australian flashes a map with NZ as part of its country. I dont see what that has to do with free speech and free speech is not confined to the Australians. If you truly believe in those values, those students have the same right. And Australian universities is dependent and addicted to Chinese money because of the reduced funding by the Australian government which forces them to look for alternative sources of revenue. Unlike NZ.
This is the old racism. I like your money and business but I wont want to know you too well.
Don’t like the Chinese students who take up 30% of the entire foreign students revenue? Close the door on them.There you have it, problem is solved. Bishop can shove her gob in her bottom.
KS Chin It was a deliberate attempt on his part, particularly during the tense period of the Sikkim border dispute. I would say he injected his political ideas into his teaching material most probably of his ties with the country involved in the dispute. He should be reprimanded and put in his place by his university.
China has been an imperialistic hegemonistic country, nothing new in that.
Watch out Australia : It isonly a matter of time that Chinese will claim that they have a historic claim on Australia since Admiral Zeng He supposedly had visited the island.
Every time I read a article that Helen Clarks posts on Asian Times I get a bad taste in my mouth. The Chinese use "Soft Power" like the second most powerful country in the world should just sit in a corner saying sorry Mr Australia——sorry for buying your raw materials, sorry for buying your real estate, sorry for sending our students to your Universities. The problem that the leaders of Australia face that will determine its place in history is how to accommodate the needs of its biggest trading partner in many areas and be respectful of Chinese Power, Chinese Influence and Chinese Culture!!
Too sides to the same coin. If Australia can play hardball, so can China. Don’ Forget Chinadoes not own Australia a living. They can make life very very difficult for you too.
China came Tibet in 1950’s pretented that they arrived now to liberate ordinary Tibetans from Aristocratic hegemony. They intruded into Tibet without any official permission or visa. Irionocally, about nine years, they extended friendship with Aristoractic families, monastic masters, local leaders and offered lots of silver coins to them, so that their intrusion looks positive rather illegal invasion of neighbouring country. The leaders and educated people were bribed and oridanary Tibetans did not know whether Chinese presence in their country was illegal intrusion or legal. Once, they made strong hold of their position with the troops they brought, they started interferring Tibet’s government activities and Dalai Lama’s movement which provoked ordinary people to raise up against illegal intrusion. China took the chance of great revolt against them by Tibetans and started genocide in all over Tibet after March 10, 1959 Uprising. They arrested all Aristocratic members, leaders and spiritual masters alleging that they belonged to Fedual system and Communist troops were sent to liberate people. This kind of game played to create hatred among Tibetans and destroy unity. So, spending money in the beginning and creating trouble eventually is China’s political tactic. Tibetans have always considered China as invaders and legally China does not belong to Tibet than how Indian territory they could claim. Big liar.
…while India has been positively genocidal to its remaining Muslim minority. Whatsup buddy, still think Nepal & Bhutan should be part of India, and you’re bitter that China owns Tibet?
If I was in the Chinese gov, I’d tell us to take a hike. Ask the Aussie gov what they plant to do when China no longer wants its commodities, and thehn snigger at their wide-eyed startled expressions and hints of panic…
What rubbish. Tibet has never been treated as an independent country by the West. It as always considered a part of China, but loosely associated because of the collaspe of central authority following the collapse of Imperial rule.
If it was Chiang Kai Sheks Kuomingtang that entered Lhasa to reinstate Chinese authority, no-one in the West would have complained. Because it was Maos’ Communists, the West mutters about "invasions" and "human rights violations". Double standards, as is our usual practise.
Gary Sellars You are mixing up with Uighur Muslims of East Turkistan where China is doing a state sponsored genocide. Our muslim population are well and growing.
Gary Sellars Tibet was never was part of China, it is still not part of China but an illegally occupied sovereign state.
Recent strategy of the Chinese 50 cents army, make multiple fake IDs with western sounding names and swarm the internet to spread fake Chinese propaganda.
Debasish Ray Gary Sellars is a muslim using fake names to disguise his true identity.
Debasish Ray So was was your trip to Xinjiang?
Free South Tibet, anyone?
Debasish Ray Free South Tibet, anyone?
Debasish Ray Free South Tibet, anyone?
Every time when I see her name, I come for the comments mostly. I’d stop at first paragraph.
Western sounding names? I lol, because everytime I call cusotmer support, I always get some Indian named Mike or Henry.
I love China: I just do not want my country to become its satellite.
Don’t blame others for the consequences of your own greed Australia. Your government allowed these people, and their money, into your land, that you mates got fair and square by exterminating the aborigines.
Debasish Ray ya state sponsored genocide resulting in population increasing from 8.4mil in 2000 to 10.0mil in 2010. Doesn’t looked like the genocide is effective.
Debasish Ray would you like to show what treaty existed between India and Tibet. Can you dig it out from your cupboard? Don’t keep it personal. Share with everybody.
Debasish Ray the north-east was never part of India but illegally occupied native land. Sikkim was never part of India, but was illegally annexed by India as admitted by Morarji Desai.
Bhodgyalo Khenrap Tibet was conquered by the Manchus long before you were borned.
Chinese talk lot about Tibet and telling it is a part of China. Unfortunately, China does not know Tibet properly, the size of Tibet, political history of Tibet, and what Tibeta means. In 1959 when China occupied and illegally eliminate Dalai Lama’s legitimate government, she thought we controlled all over Tibet. Eventually, she realized that Pt. Nehru’s Panch Sheel agreement of 1954, deceived China to lose huge Himalayan area of Tibet. China started border talk with India to claim some parts of Arunachal Pradesh of Indian province and Ladakh from Jammu and Kashmir. If Tibet is a part of China since the history began, how come China the owner of Tibet from four thousand years earlier and does not know its own land and its real border. How come there was no single Chinese to be seen in Tibet before invasion of Tibet. When someone lies, he or she needs numerous patches to cover the lie and that happening with China. Tibetans regard Tibet as an independent country and there is no need of Western recognation. The system of UN set up 70 years ago and Tibet being ruled by Tibetans thousands of years. Therefore, why we need to follow UN rules where China itself is one of the member of veto power. UN is not democratic body rather embodiment of power and money.
KS Chin why can’t the chinese move to other parts of vast open lands in China, i geuss thay like Ausie men?
Roko Komboko shove off twat… you know zip about me, so shove yer BS.