Australia and New Zealand under Chinese influence

Australia and New Zealand are in turmoil. Several recent revelations show Beijing’s efforts to influence politics and co-opt the elites in these two countries. says Ann Marie Brady, a researcher at New Zealand’s University of Canterbury, who came to publish a report about this subject. The ultimate goal is to get these countries to adopt policies consistent with China’s interests abroad.”

New Zealand, the weak link

Australia imports from China as it is one of its main suppliers of iron ore and coal. New Zealand, for its part, is one of seven states with claims over Antarctica, an area Beijing dreams of investing in, and an important source of arable land and dairy products. “This country is also seen as a soft spot for the ‘Five Eyes’ coalition that brings together the US, Canadian, British, Australian and New Zealand intelligence services, explains Anne-Marie Brady. China may be hoping to take advantage of this to gain access to some sensitive data.”

To do this, Beijing has developed a multifaceted strategy that includes, in particular, the election of politicians of Chinese origin who are ready to use their mandate to defend the positions of their native country, such as Yang Jian, who entered the New Zealand parliament in 2011. From 2014 to 2016, the man served on a selection committee for foreign affairs, trade, and defence, which gave him access to classified documents and enabled him to participate in many high-level negotiations with Chinese officials. Before emigrating to Oceania, he spent fifteen years studying and teaching at two academies of the Secret Service and the Chinese Army.

questionable connections

China also seeks to extend its influence through donations. Over the past 10 years, two real estate tycoons close to the Communist Party, Huang Xiangmu and Chow Chak-wing, have donated A$6.7 million (5.1 million francs) to Australia’s three largest parties. Last year, the former canceled a $400,000 donation to the Labor Party after the latter criticized Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. The next day, Labor Senator Sam Dastiari organized a press conference to defend China’s position on the issue. He has since had to resign because of a gift he received from an organization close to Beijing.

Ann Marie Brady also noted many donations to New Zealand parties. Between 2011 and 2017, close associate of Beijing Shi Die, head of investment firm Shanghai Jiacheng Investment Management and dairy company Oravida, for example, gave $186,500 to the National Party, which has been in power since 2008.

The third pole of the Chinese attack: Co-opting ex-politicians. Anne Marie Brady explains: “These people are offered an important position in a Chinese company. China thus hopes to take advantage of the privilege of its access to power.

In New Zealand, former National Party leader Don Brash was appointed chairman of the local branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and former parliamentarians Ruth Richardson and Chris Tremayne joined the board of the New Zealand branch of the Bank of China. In Australia, former Trade Minister Andrew Robb has become an advisor to the Landbridge Group, a subsidiary of Chinese billionaire Ye Cheng that has secured a 99-year lease on Darwin Port.