QResear.ch

#21252194 at 2024-07-20 14:37:22 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #37: EVERYTHING IS AT STAKE Edition

#36 - Part 91
Australia / China Tensions - Part 15
>>21036210 OPINION: We can't pander to China. Hong Kong Australians need us to speak up for them - "As Australia hosts China's Premier Li this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the visit is an "opportunity for Australia to advance our interests by demonstrating our national values" and that "Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core". In the lead-up to this landmark visit, increasingly brazen steps have been taken to crack down on freedoms in Hong Kong. New, draconian national security laws have been introduced despite significant human rights concerns raised by the UN. Peaceful protesters, as well as booksellers, journalists and children's book authors have been arresTed and prosecuTed. Fourteen pro-democracy activists have been convicTed of "subversion" for peacefully participating in political activities. Even singing a protest song, Glory to Hong Kong, can now result in prosecution. Lai's case is emblematic of the crackdown on free speech, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong, which is also affecting Australians. Just last month, 14 democracy activists were convicTed under the national security law, including an Australian citizen. As part of the crackdown, Hong Kong has issued "bounties" for the arrest of high-profile activists living in exile, including for former legislator Ted Hui and lawyer Kevin Yam, who is also an Australian citizen. Both live in Australia. Australia has a large Hong Kong community: around 86,000 people born in Hong Kong now call Australia home. This growing transnational repression threat makes it all the more important that Australia raises it. Australia must raise free speech and democracy in Hong Kong and call for the release of Jimmy Lai and all journalists and pro-democracy campaigners." - Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, international human rights lawyer and Jennifer Robinson, Australian barrister and member of Jimmy Lai's legal team - theage.com.au
>>21042011 Video: 'Rude, inappropriate': Albanese toughens language on Cheng Lei incident as Chinese premier departs - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has insisTed his government has improved relations with China without giving ground on core values, as he revealed he complained directly to Chinese Premier Li Qiang about embassy officials' disrespectful treatment of journalist Cheng Lei. Albanese toughened his language late on Tuesday afternoon after coming under attack by the opposition for failing to condemn the embassy officials' behaviour strongly enough. He described the conduct as "rude", "entirely inappropriate" and "counterproductive", while the government separately blasTed China for "dangerous and illegal" behaviour in the South China Sea. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton lashed Albanese for failing to call out the Chinese officials' behaviour swiftly on Monday, saying the prime minister needed to "grow a backbone" after Albanese initially called the conduct "clumsy" and "ham-fisTed" on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, Albanese had said the "idea of standing between a camera and a journalist is just clearly inappropriate". "That was rude what occurred and, frankly, just counterproductive from the Chinese side and just drew attention to the fact that Cheng Lei was there," he said in an interview with 6PR.
>>21042044 Chinese officials were rude and belligerent. Why did that take Albanese so long to say? - "Rude. Belligerent. Completely disrespectful. Utterly inappropriate. These were some of the words Anthony Albanese could have accurately used when asked on Tuesday morning to describe the behaviour of Chinese embassy officials at a signing ceremony at Parliament House the previous day. Instead, the prime minister opTed for "ham-fisTed" and "clumsy". He used this language in multiple breakfast radio interviews, indicating it had been carefully chosen the night before. It took about eight more hours - and Coalition demands for him to "grow a backbone" - for Albanese to toughen his language. It's true that a foreign official behaving like a pork chop by standing in front of a reporter is a trivial affair in and of itself. Beijing's systematic repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, its assault on democracy in Hong Kong and cyberattacks on nations, including Australia, are far more significant violations, to name just a few. Yet what occurred at the signing ceremony was a symbolically powerful moment, one that affronTed Australians' famed sense of fairness. By refusing to budge despite the protestations of Australian officials, the Chinese embassy official confirmed Australians' worst fears of China under Xi Jinping: a thuggish superpower so smitten with its sense of superiority that it can throw its weight around at will." - Matthew Knott - theage.com.au

#21251670 at 2024-07-20 13:20:24 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #36: BADGE OF HONOR Edition

#36 - Part 91
Australia / China Tensions - Part 15
>>21036210 OPINION: We can't pander to China. Hong Kong Australians need us to speak up for them - "As Australia hosts China's Premier Li this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said the visit is an "opportunity for Australia to advance our interests by demonstrating our national values" and that "Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core". In the lead-up to this landmark visit, increasingly brazen steps have been taken to crack down on freedoms in Hong Kong. New, draconian national security laws have been introduced despite significant human rights concerns raised by the UN. Peaceful protesters, as well as booksellers, journalists and children's book authors have been arresTed and prosecuTed. Fourteen pro-democracy activists have been convicTed of "subversion" for peacefully participating in political activities. Even singing a protest song, Glory to Hong Kong, can now result in prosecution. Lai's case is emblematic of the crackdown on free speech, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong, which is also affecting Australians. Just last month, 14 democracy activists were convicTed under the national security law, including an Australian citizen. As part of the crackdown, Hong Kong has issued "bounties" for the arrest of high-profile activists living in exile, including for former legislator Ted Hui and lawyer Kevin Yam, who is also an Australian citizen. Both live in Australia. Australia has a large Hong Kong community: around 86,000 people born in Hong Kong now call Australia home. This growing transnational repression threat makes it all the more important that Australia raises it. Australia must raise free speech and democracy in Hong Kong and call for the release of Jimmy Lai and all journalists and pro-democracy campaigners." - Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, international human rights lawyer and Jennifer Robinson, Australian barrister and member of Jimmy Lai's legal team - theage.com.au
>>21042011 'Rude, inappropriate': Albanese toughens language on Cheng Lei incident as Chinese premier departs - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has insisTed his government has improved relations with China without giving ground on core values, as he revealed he complained directly to Chinese Premier Li Qiang about embassy officials' disrespectful treatment of journalist Cheng Lei. Albanese toughened his language late on Tuesday afternoon after coming under attack by the opposition for failing to condemn the embassy officials' behaviour strongly enough. He described the conduct as "rude", "entirely inappropriate" and "counterproductive", while the government separately blasTed China for "dangerous and illegal" behaviour in the South China Sea. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton lashed Albanese for failing to call out the Chinese officials' behaviour swiftly on Monday, saying the prime minister needed to "grow a backbone" after Albanese initially called the conduct "clumsy" and "ham-fisTed" on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, Albanese had said the "idea of standing between a camera and a journalist is just clearly inappropriate". "That was rude what occurred and, frankly, just counterproductive from the Chinese side and just drew attention to the fact that Cheng Lei was there," he said in an interview with 6PR.
>>21042044 Chinese officials were rude and belligerent. Why did that take Albanese so long to say? - "Rude. Belligerent. Completely disrespectful. Utterly inappropriate. These were some of the words Anthony Albanese could have accurately used when asked on Tuesday morning to describe the behaviour of Chinese embassy officials at a signing ceremony at Parliament House the previous day. Instead, the prime minister opTed for "ham-fisTed" and "clumsy". He used this language in multiple breakfast radio interviews, indicating it had been carefully chosen the night before. It took about eight more hours - and Coalition demands for him to "grow a backbone" - for Albanese to toughen his language. It's true that a foreign official behaving like a pork chop by standing in front of a reporter is a trivial affair in and of itself. Beijing's systematic repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, its assault on democracy in Hong Kong and cyberattacks on nations, including Australia, are far more significant violations, to name just a few. Yet what occurred at the signing ceremony was a symbolically powerful moment, one that affronTed Australians' famed sense of fairness. By refusing to budge despite the protestations of Australian officials, the Chinese embassy official confirmed Australians' worst fears of China under Xi Jinping: a thuggish superpower so smitten with its sense of superiority that it can throw its weight around at will." - Matthew Knott - theage.com.au

#21036219 at 2024-06-17 11:41:21 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #36: BADGE OF HONOR Edition

>>21036210

2/2

Lai's case is emblematic of the crackdown on free speech, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong, which is also affecting Australians. Just last month, 14 democracy activists were convicTed under the national security law, including an Australian citizen. As part of the crackdown, Hong Kong has issued "bounties" for the arrest of high-profile activists living in exile, including for former legislator Ted Hui and lawyer Kevin Yam, who is also an Australian citizen. Both live in Australia.

Australia has a large Hong Kong community: around 86,000 people born in Hong Kong now call Australia home. This growing transnational repression threat makes it all the more important that Australia raises it.

There are also promising signs for opportunity for real dialogue on these issues. During his visit to New Zealand, Li made his intentions clear, saying it is "natural that we don't always see eye to eye but such differences should not become a chasm that blocks exchanges and co-operation between us".

Australia must raise free speech and democracy in Hong Kong and call for the release of Jimmy Lai and all journalists and pro-democracy campaigners.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC is an international human rights lawyer and lead counsel for Jimmy Lai. Jennifer Robinson is an Australian barrister working in London and a member of Jimmy Lai's international legal team.

Caoilfhionn Gallagher will appear at the National Press Club in Canberra on Monday, July 1 with Jimmy's son, Sebastien Lai, to discuss the trial, press freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/don-t-pander-to-china-pm-hong-kong-australians-need-you-to-speak-up-for-them-20240616-p5jm42.html

https://www.npc.org.au/speaker/2024/1336-sebastien-lai-caoilfhionn-gallagher-kc

#19199781 at 2023-07-18 10:51:08 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition

>>19120607 (pb)
>>19126504 (pb)
>>19154878 (pb)
Democracy activists welcome here say Aussie MPs, as new figures show few Hongkongers seek visas

ELLEN WHINNETT - JULY 18, 2023

People fleeing Chinese oppression in Hong Kong should consider Australia as a destination, the leaders of a bipartisan group of parliamentarians say, as new figures show barely a handful of protection visas are granTed to Hongkongers by Australia each year.

Labor MP Peter Khalil and Liberal senator James Paterson, the co-chairs of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said Australia should be a destination of choice for Hongkongers targeTed by authorities following the 2020 imposition of Beijing's national security laws on the former British colony

The issue has taken on new impetus after the Hong Kong police offered bounties for the arrests of eight Hong Kong democracy activists now based overseas, including Australian citizen Kevin Yam and resident Ted Hui, who lives in Australia on a temporary bridging visa.

In a joint statement, Mr Khalil and Senator Paterson condemned the bounties, which were announced early this month and accompanied by threats that Hong Kong's police would "not stop chasing'' the activists accused of breaking national security laws by Beijing.

"The arrest warrants and bounties on the heads of an Australian citizen and resident by the Hong Kong authorities are utterly unacceptable,'' the pair told The Australian.

"Their rights to engage in free speech and political activism in Australia are protecTed and should never be interfered with by external parties.''

Department of Home Affairs figures show that only small numbers of Hong Kong passport holders apply for protection in Australia each year, and barely a handful of protection visa are granTed.

The figures show fewer than 350 Hongkongers in total applied for protection in the past three years. This compares to the more than 250 Indian passport holders who apply each month while already in Australia, and about 150 mainland Chinese citizens who also apply every month.

Hong Kong retained some independence from Beijing after it came back under Chinese rule in 1997, but widespread protests against creeping political interference in 2019 led to the imposition of mainland China's national security laws in 2020.

In the last year before the laws came into effect, 2018-2019, just 62 holders of Hong Kong passports applied for Australian protection visas, with none granTed.

The following year, covering the protest period, 164 people applied, with none granTed as the Covid crisis began to take hold.

In financial year 2020-2021, 186 people applied as authorities came down hard on criticism of Beijing's masters.

By 2021-2022, the number of applications had fallen to 85, and last financial year, numbers fell further, with just 70 applications. In each of those financial years, fewer than five protection visas were granTed each year.

Home Affairs does not report specific visa numbers if the numbers are lower than five, meaning it could be as few as a single visa a year issued.

Many Hongkongers have instead taken advantage of their historic links to the UK and generous resettlement options, and instead gone to England, where the government was preparing for almost 500,000 people to apply for visas.

"Australia should aspire to be a destination of choice for the people of Hong Kong given the continued deterioration of freedoms and undermining of the rule of law,'' Mr Khalil and Senator Paterson said. "Whether they choose to come as students, skilled workers or humanitarian applicants, our country will be better for their presence."

The Australian arm of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China is part of a global network of parliamentarians from democracies that works to hold China to account for human rights abuses, foreign influence and creeping authoritarianism.

The bounties on the democracy activists were issued on July 4 and accused the eight people living in Australia, Canada, the US and Britain of breaching national security laws.

Mr Yam, a Melbourne-born lawyer and academic who lived for years in Hong Kong before returning to his city of birth, is an Australian citizen.

Mr Hui, a pro-democracy parliamentarian, was inviTed to Australia with his family on a tourist visa after being forced to flee Hong Kong.

While he is now on a temporary bridging visa, sources in Canberra have told The Australian the issuing of the bounty made it all but guaranteed he would receive permanent residency or citizenship rights in Australia.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/democracy-activists-welcome-here-say-aussie-mps-as-new-figures-show-few-hongkongers-seek-visas/news-story/1569bf3afa5f98e9ad490fd3a991787b

#19188934 at 2023-07-16 09:44:12 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition

#30 - Part 70
Australia / China Tensions - Part 8
>>19126537 Anthony Albanese should reconsider rapprochement with China - "Penny Wong was right to warn the Chinese government of the existence of strong foreign interference legislation in Australia, after Hong Kong authorities ?issued arrest warrants for two democracy activists now resident in Australia. Hong Kong's national security police also offered $HK1m rewards for information that leads to the capture of lawyer Kevin Yam, an Australian citizen, and former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui, who lives in Adelaide. The Foreign Minister expressed her "deep disappointment" at the Chinese actions, and reiteraTed that Canberra had long held deep concerns about the ?application of national security laws in Hong Kong. Wong said: "I want to be very clear. Australia has a view about freedom of expression, we have a view about people's right to express their views peacefully, and people in Australia who do so in accordance with our laws will be supporTed." Her comments make it clear the official Chinese actions represent an ugly effort to intimidate Australia, to intimidate the diaspora and ethnic Chinese community within Australia, and to intimidate the two democracy ?activists named. The Australian government has an overwhelming operational responsibility now to make sure no agents of the Chinese government, and no one inspired by their effective call to persecution, can act against any Australians." - Greg Sheridan - theaustralian.com.au
>>19126550 Calls for Chinese-made DJI drones to be removed after 3000 devices found across government - More than 3000 drones and other devices manufactured by Chinese company DJI are owned by federal government agencies, despite the People's Liberation Army-linked technology being black-lisTed in the US. A government-wide audit by opposition cyber security spokesman James Paterson has revealed 3114 drones, cameras and other DJI-manufactured devices were in the possession of agencies ranging from the National Portrait Gallery of Australia to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Some devices are batteries and gimbals - camera stabilisers that do not connect to the internet - but most are cameras and drones with internet connectivity. Senator Paterson said the widespread use of the DJI devices demonstraTed the need for Australia to follow the example of Britain and introduce a new office within the Department of Home Affairs to assess risks posed by technology originating from "auth?oritarian countries.''
>>19138979 Security concerns raised as state MPs plan China junket - Victorian state Labor MPs are planning a ten-day junket in China to learn the country's culture and gather "three years' worth of social media content", prompting national security concerns from experts and the federal Coalition. The September trip's itinerary, drafTed by Victorian MP Will Fowles and leaked by Labor figures worried about the wisdom of the visit, also advised MPs how to utilise their $10,000 annual taxpayer-funded travel allowance by making bookings before June 30 so next financial year's allowance remained. Occurring months after Premier Daniel Andrews faced scrutiny for a trip to China, the jaunt promises MPs "an appreciation of Chinese culture", "a working understanding of how business in China operates", and "an understanding of how Chinese government works".
>>19139019 Hong Kong dissident and Labor member wants MPs' China trip cancelled - An Australian lawyer and Labor Party member with a bounty on his head for criticising the China-led rights crackdown in Hong Kong has urged Andrews government MPs to abandon a planned trip to China, arguing the visit was a "propaganda" tour that insulTed his plight. Kevin Yam, 47, is one of two Australia-based activists accused by Hong Kong police of national security offences, including foreign collusion. Authorities have offered $130,000 for information leading to his arrest and urged Australia to "stop providing a safe haven for fugitives". Yam, who is also a rank and file member of the Australian Labor Party, told this masthead he was disappoinTed to learn of a 10-day September junket being planned by a group of state Labor MPs who intend to learn about Chinese culture and business. "You'll never see the real China on these trips," he said. "If you're talking about a cultural exchange - we all know these sorts of trips are not really about that. It's about China trying to show a positive side of itself to a bunch of unwitting regional-level Australian MPs. "And why now? Especially given in my case as an ALP member, I have a bounty over me and MPs are going on what they think is a cultural exchange. But really it is a propaganda trip. I certainly hope they would reconsider whether this is the right timing for something like this given an Australian citizen and fellow ALP member has got this over his head."

#19188932 at 2023-07-16 09:43:46 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition

#30 - Part 69
Australia / China Tensions - Part 7
>>19126437 Australia PM says Hong Kong bounty on overseas activists 'unacceptable' - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday it was "unacceptable" that Hong Kong has put bounties on two Australian residents who are among eight overseas democracy activists wanTed under a national security law. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday eight overseas-based Hong Kong activists who were issued with arrest warrants for alleged national security offences would be "pursued for life". "It's just unacceptable," Albanese said of the Hong Kong announcement in a Nine television interview. "We will continue to cooperate with China where we can, but we will disagree where we must. And we do disagree over human rights issues." Australia's opposition leader Peter Dutton said it was "completely unacceptable that Australians should be tracked down or hunTed down".
>>19126468 Australian businesses in the dark about China's new spy laws - Beijing's new anti-espionage laws, which came into effect days before Hong Kong police put a bounty on two Australian residents, have further raised the risk Australian companies could have staff ?detained for what would be deemed ordinary business activities outside of China. The brazen extraterritorial application of Hong Kong's sweeping National Security Law in Melbourne and Adelaide on Monday has underlined just how serious Xi Jinping's regime is about snuffing out behaviour it deems "anti China" and a threat to the Communist Party's rule. It shocked many Australians with dealings in China, a country already known for arbitrary detention. Concerns were already elevaTed over Beijing's new anti-espionage laws, which took effect over the weekend. Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said the Coalition was "gravely concerned" over the police bounties. "This represents an unacceptable attempt to silence and intimidate critics of the Chinese government living in Australia, and further demonstrates the corrosive effects of the National Security Law to democratic principles and the rule of law in Hong Kong," Senator Paterson said
>>19126504 China tells Australia to stop harbouring Hong Kong 'fugitives', DFAT updates travel advice - China's Foreign Ministry has told Australia to stop sheltering fugitives, after Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed deep concern over Hong Kong issuing arrest warrants for eight overseas-based activists, including two living in Australia. Australian citizen and legal scholar Kevin Yam, and former Hong Kong politician Ted Hui, who fled the island and now lives in Adelaide, were among the eight people wanTed for alleged breaches under the controversial national security law. Asked about the condemnation from Western countries, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning alleged Mr Yam and the others had engaged in "anti-China activities aimed at destabilising Hong Kong". "We strongly deplore and firmly oppose individual countries' flagrant slandering against the national security law for Hong Kong and interference in the rule of law in Hong Kong," she said. "Relevant countries need to respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, stop lending support for anti-China elements destabilising Hong Kong, and stop providing a safe haven for fugitives."
>>19126523 Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on July 4, 2023 - "Kevin Yam and the others have long been engaging in anti-China activities aimed at destabilizing Hong Kong. After fleeing overseas, they have acTed in an even more outrageous way to create trouble and continued to instigate the division of the country and subversion of state power, acting as pawns for external anti-China forces in their effort to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. Their abominable moves gravely violate the national security law for Hong Kong, seriously threaten the bottom line of One Country, Two Systems, severely harm the fundamental interests of Hong Kong and gravely jeopardize China's sovereignty, security and development interests."

#19188930 at 2023-07-16 09:42:31 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #31: MAGIC SWORD - IN THE FACE OF EVIL Edition

#30 - Part 68
Australia / China Tensions - Part 6
>>19094098 Corruption inquiry in Australia uncovers China links to state lawmaker - The former premier of Australia's most populous state engaged in corrupt conduct involving another lawmaker with whom she was in a secret romantic relationship, a years-long corruption inquiry that examined business dealings with China said on Thursday. The New South Wales Independent Commission into Corruption (ICAC) said in a report that Gladys Berejiklian had failed to notify the commission of her concerns that Daryl Maguire, a member of the state assembly with whom she was in a relationship during her term of office, may have engaged in corrupt conduct, and this undermined the ministerial code.
>>19104349 Australia, Solomon Islands to review security pact after China moves in - Australia and Solomon Islands will review their bilateral security treaty in a move experts say is aimed at checking China's burgeoning security partnership with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's government. Following a meeting with Mr Sogavare in Honiara, Defence Minister Richard Marles said the treaty would be updaTed to reflect the "contemporary" security environment in the Solomon Islands, including the presence of an Australian-led Pacific nations peacekeeping force.
>>19104518 Japan, Australia, US stage joint drill - Japan, Australia and the US are holding an annual joint drill in Queensland, northeastern Australia. It's aimed at streamlining defense cooperation as China ramps up its maritime activities. A record-high number of some 2,500 personnel from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, the Australian Army and the US Marine Corps are taking part in the exercise, called "Southern Jackaroo."
>>19104539 Australia and Japan conduct war games in contesTed waters, closely watched by Chinese military - An Australian warship and surveillance aircraft have conducTed military exercises with Japan in the South China Sea under the close watch of the People's Liberation Army. The war games, which took place over the past weekend in strategically contesTed waters, focused on tactical operations, including anti-surface and anti-air warfare, but were not publicised by the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Sources with knowledge of the two-day exercises have confirmed China's People's Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) was in "the vicinity" of the activity but did not interact directly with the Australian warship or aircraft. The Commander of Japan's first surface unit for the Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023, Rear Admiral Takahiro Nishiyama, said his nation and Australia were considered "special strategic partners". "Like our country, Australia, an ally of the UniTed States, is a 'Special Strategic Partner' in the Indo-Pacific region, sharing not only universal values but also strategic interests in security," the rear admiral said in a statement.
>>19120607 Hong Kong police put bounty on two high-profile Australian residents - Hong Kong police have put a $HK1m ($191,800) bounty on Melbourne-based Australian lawyer Kevin Yam and Ted Hui, a former Hong Kong politician who now lives in Adelaide, in an unprecedenTed application of the Beijing-authored National Security Law. Announcing the bounties late on Monday, Chief Superintendent Steven Li said Hong Kong's police force "won't stop chasing them", setting up a confrontation with an Australian government already straining to maintain the recent "stabilisation" of relations with China. "We are absolutely not staging any show or spreading fear. We are enforcing law," said Superintendent Li at a press conference in Hong Kong.
>>19120614 'Hilarious': Hong Kong activists in Australia slam China's arrest threat - Hong Kong activists living in Australia who have had a bounty put on them by the Chinese government have dismissed the threat as a stunt, arguing it reveals how powerless Beijing has become against dissent overseas. The $HK1 million bounties ($192,000) were offered by Hong Kong police chief superintendent Steve Li on Monday night for information leading to the arrests of Melbourne lawyer Kevin Yam, who is an Australian citizen, and former Hong Kong legislator Ted Hui, who has settled in Adelaide with his family. Hui, a pro-democracy leader, has had multiple warrants issued for his arrest since he left Hong Kong in 2020 after his family's accounts were locked by HSBC, Hang Seng Bank and Bank of China. Hui, who led protests against Beijing's growing influence over Hong Kong in 2019, said he did not fear for his or his family's safety in Australia. "I think the bounty is ridiculous and hilarious. It can only be a high-profile gesture without any legal effects. Free countries will not extradite us because of that. It only shows how powerless the Chinese Communist Party is in response to the Hong Kong diaspora who advocates for freedom and democracy."

#17435417 at 2022-08-24 10:20:06 (UTC+1)
Q Research Australia #25: My Koala Hates Spam Too Edition

Why this Chinese-Australian feels unsafe after speaking out about China's treatment of Uyghurs

Vicky Xu says human rights activists and critics of the Chinese government in Australia are being harassed and intimidaTed.

Tom Canetti - 24 August 2022

1/3

Researcher and journalist Vicky Xu withdrew from appearing in the media for the past year-and-a-half due to what she calls "harassing, targeting and intimidating" by the Chinese government and its "fanatic" supporters.

Last week, Ms Xu returned, making an appearance at La Trobe University in Melbourne, where she was to give a talk on China's human rights records.

Ms Xu has worked extensively on researching China's "re-education" of its Uyghur minority, and is the lead author of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report Uyghurs for Sale, which condemns the alleged forced labour of Uyghurs.

On 17 August, UN Special Rapporteur Tomoya Obokata released a report claiming to verify forced labour against Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang region.

Once Ms Xu began her talk last Wednesday, a man in the audience at La Trobe University repeaTedly questioned the legitimacy of her work.

Ms Xu recognised the man from a similar encounter at Melbourne airport, where she claims he "ambushed" her, questioning her journalism on alleged human rights abuses in China.

"It was deeply unsettling," Ms Xu told SBS News.

"The Chinese government and its fanatic supporters have been harassing, targeting and intimidating me really intensely for the past year and a half.

Ms Xu, who says she's been followed since moving to Australia and speaking out on human rights, says groups of people supporting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are trying to scare activists out of speaking at events.

"It seems to me that their aim is to make institutions and universities fear such disruption and to make them too scared to invite journalists, researchers, analysts like myself," she said.

"Because I was participating at the event, La Trobe University had to hire security specifically for this event. Especially in light of what's happened to [Salman] Rushdie. And recently what happened to former Hong Kong legislator, Ted Hui in Sydney."

Ms Xu is referring to an incident that is alleged to have happened to Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and former legislator Ted Hui in Sydney earlier this month.

"I've been one of the most outspoken Chinese journalists in Australia. And even I felt that I had to shy away from public attention for my own sanity," she said.

"It creates doubts and fear in organisers, in my fellow panellists, and in myself and everybody who cares about my safety.

"This cultural fear is only growing, and it's extremely unhealthy for Australian public debates."

Co-author of Uyghurs for Sale and senior ASPI fellow James Leibold was chairing the event and had to call security to ask the man to leave.

ASPI is a national security and defence think-tank that receives funding from Australia's defence department, foreign governments including the US, and military contractors.

"He became quite agitaTed and stood up and starTed to walk towards her in a pretty confronting way, and myself and Sophie McNeill, from Human Rights Watch, had to intervene," Mr Leibold said.

"Clearly there's a group of people who are Australian citizens, but there's also others that inhabit the kind of Twittersphere that's seeking to parrot CCP talking points, and to intimidate those who are critical of the Chinese Communist Party and some of its policies. "

Mr Leibold says these groups have "really honed in on people like Vicky Xu".

"I know she doesn't feel safe. And that shouldn't happen in a open democracy like Australia," he said.

(continued)

#15225175 at 2021-12-20 17:42:43 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #20 - INSURGENCY Edition

Hong Kong election has Five Eyes seeing red

BEN PACKHAM - DECEMBER 20, 2021

The Five Eyes nations have issued a joint statement expressing "grave concerns" over the outcome of Hong Kong's first legislative elections since Beijing dictaTed only so-called patriots could govern the city.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne joined her counterparts from the US, Britain, Canada and New Zealand in condemning the "erosion of democratic elements of the Special Administrative ?Region's electoral system", which prompTed a boycott of the Legislative Council ballot on Sunday.

"Actions that undermine Hong Kong's rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy are threatening our shared wish to see Hong Kong succeed," they said in the statement issued late on Monday night.

"Since the handover, candidates with diverse political views have contesTed elections in Hong Kong. This election has reversed this trend."

The Five Eyes ministers said the changes to Hong Kong's electoral system earlier this year, which reduced the number of ?directly elecTed seats and established a new vetting process for candidates, had "eliminaTed any meaningful political opposition".

They also remained "gravely concerned at the wider chilling ?effect" of the CCP-imposed national security law in Hong Kong, and "the growing restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which are being felt across civil society".

"Protecting space for peaceful alternative views is the most effective way to ensure the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

"We urge the People's Republic of China to act in accordance with its international obligations to respect protecTed rights and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, including those guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration."

The statement was authorised by Senator Payne, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, and New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

New Zealand's decision to join the statement is significant, after Ms Mahuta said this year she was "uncomfortable with expanding the remit of the Five Eyes" beyond intelligence sharing.

The position followed criticism by China's Foreign Ministry the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partners had "taken co-ordinaTed steps to gang up on China".

In a stinging rebuke for Beijing, Hongkongers turned out in historically low numbers to cast votes under the new "patriots only" rules that dramatically cut directly elecTed seats, official results showed on Monday.

Figures showed just 30 per cent of the electorate cast ballots.

It was the first legislature poll under a new political blueprint China imposed on Hong Kong in response to massive and often ?violent pro-democracy protests two years ago.

The Five Eyes, including New Zealand, previously issued a joint statement on Hong Kong in November last year, after Chinese authorities arresTed Hong Kong politicians Ted Hui, Eddie Chu, and Raymond Chan.

Mr Hui, who has since relocaTed to Australia, said the low turnout for the "sham election" reflecTed the anger of ordinary people about the loss of their democratic freedoms.

"The message to Beijing is very clear," the now-Adelaide resident told The Australian. "(Hongkongers) feel that the election is irrelevant and illegitimate, and they don't want to recognise it."

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said Labor was "deeply disappoinTed" at the restrictions that were placed on election candidates.

"Unfortunately, the Legislative Council elections are yet another illustration of the con?tinuing erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy and democratic freedoms, as guaranteed in the Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration, to which China had commitTed," Senator Wong said.

"This further undermining of Hong Kong's democracy and the One Country, Two Systems arrangement is not the behaviour of a responsible global power."

According to CCP mouthpiece China Daily: "Despite continuous smearing and slander from radicals and backstage manipulators, polling in Hong Kong's first Legislative Council election under the revamped system concluded smoothly."

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/hong-kong-election-has-five-eyes-seeing-red/news-story/942c08542e1a0b7690985bac268cb74b

https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/joint-statement-legislative-council-elections

#13341742 at 2021-04-01 06:52:47 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #15 - NEVER RETREAT FROM THE BATTLEFIELD Edition

#14 - Part 12
Australia / China Tensions - Part 1
>>13183795 Quad members hype 'China threat' theory to bolster their boldness - Mu Lu - globaltimes.cn
>>13184102 Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui moves to Australia
>>13184169 Video: Australia's top spy, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess 'knows' culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won't say
>>13184562 Video: End nears for Victoria's Belt and Road deal with Chinese government under foreign veto laws
>>13190373 Chinese takeover of iron ore operations on Cockatoo Island near Australian military training area causes unease inside defence and government
>>13190431 Hong Kong activist Ted Hui welcome to campaign in Australia, says head of government intelligence committee Senator James Paterson
>>13190540 Liberal Party donor Huifeng 'Haha' Liu 'engaged in acts of foreign interference': ASIO
>>13195888 China tells UN Australia's offshore detention centres violate human rights, don't have adequate conditions
>>13196535 Elise Thomas Tweet: They're right. This is something we should be ashamed of and something we need to fix. Whataboutism is a cop-out and we should lead by example on human rights issues
>>13200581 Propelling 'Asian NATO' beyond US capacity: Global Times editorial - globaltimes.cn
>>13241473 Australian media launches false spy accusations against Chinese business man; expatriates from the mainland at risk in the country: analysts - globaltimes.cn

>>13241520 'Just not going to happen': US Indo-Pacific co-ordinator Kurt Campbell warns China over Australian trade stoush - 'we are not going to leave Australia alone on the field'
>>13241531 Campbell's remarks push Australia further to the anti-China frontline - Chen Hong - globaltimes.cn
>>13241570 Britain aligns with Australia against China - Beijing "a systemic challenge" to British prosperity and values
>>13241638 Beijing blames Australia's 'wrong words and deeds' for trade war after US rebuke
>>13241643 Transcript - Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on March 16, 2021
>>13247914 Video: Don't expect a breakthrough in U.S.-China talks, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd says - CNBC International TV
>>13254571 PDF: Consider reclaiming Darwin Port from Chinese company Landbridge, committee advises federal government
>>13254571 Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth - Inquiry Into Diversifying Australia's Trade And Investment Profile
>>13254635 (2019) Former trade minister Andrew Robb quits China-linked firm Landbridge before foreign interference law kicks in
>>13254654 South Australian Premier Steven Marshall accepts invitation to formally open controversial Adelaide Chinese Consulate
>>13264371 Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan: The US has 'got our back' on Chinese diplomatic disputes
>>13273939 China faces pressure from Australian parliament on treatment of Uighurs, religious minorities

#13341722 at 2021-04-01 06:49:00 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #15 - NEVER RETREAT FROM THE BATTLEFIELD Edition

Notables
are not endorsements

#14 - Part 1
Australian Politics and Society - Part 1
>>13165211, >>13165218 Philippines Foreign Minister Teddy Locsin calls on Myanmar junta to release Aussie Sean Turnell
>>13165331 'It's our turn': Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover - "Church and State"
>>13165352 Video: The Australian #ChurchAndState Summit 2021 is just for you - Church And State
>>13165358 Video: Cardinal George Pell is a keynote speaker at the Australian #ChurchAndState Summit in 2021 - Church And State
>>13168992 Hopping mad: US campaign to ban kangaroo product imports gains bipartisan support
>>13169146 Video: How extreme right-wing groups have 'weaponised the internet' in Australia
>>13169267 Foreign Minister Marise Payne suspends military aid to Myanmar
>>13173275 Video: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews suffers broken ribs, spine damage after "nasty fall" on "wet and slippery stairs"
>>13173322 Video: Three women go public with allegations against MP Craig Kelly's senior aide, Frank Zumbo - ABC News In-depth
>>13173867 Video: Australian Sean Turnell 'tried to flee Myanmar with secret state financial information', junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says
>>13174865 Video: Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital city after Prime Minister Scott Morrison's intervention - "If people can party and if people can protest, then we can remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day"

>>13177387 Video: Daniel Andrews' recovery could take 'months', decision looms on surgery
>>13177438 Rocco Galati Tweet: Australian Health Minister hospitalized, "in serious condition", day after receiving Covid, Astra-Zeneca, Vaccine
>>13183865 Greg Hunt has been hospitalised with cellulitis. So what is it? And how serious is it?
>>13183855 Scott Morrison says he will act as health minister but Greg Hunt will return to work next week
>>13183787 Video: Scott Morrison to join 'historic' Quad talks with Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga and Narendra Modi
>>13184102 Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui moves to Australia
>>13184141 Australian Federal Police push for sweeping online surveillance powers lashed as 'dangerous overreach' by human rights groups
>>13184169 Video: Australia's top spy, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess 'knows' culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won't say
>>13195850 Australia pulls off stunning diplomatic coup - Mathias Cormann set to be announced as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
>>13195985 Video: Scott Morrison Facebook Post: A huge honour and recognition for Australia. Well done to Mathias Cormann on being elecTed as the next Secretary-General of the OECD
>>13196051 Scott Morrison Facebook Post: An historic meeting for India, the UniTed States, Japan and Australia - the first ever leaders' meeting of the Quad

>>13196059 Video: First ever Quad Leaders' Meeting - Scott Morrison: My opening remarks to the historic first Quad Meeting involving the leaders of India, the UniTed States, Japan and Australia
>>13196223 President Joe Biden Tweet: This morning, I met virtually with the Quad in the first multilateral summit I've hosTed as president
>>13196242 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tweet: I think this meeting was a meeting that was able to take the four countries of Japan, the UniTed States, Australia and India to a new stage. We also agreed to hold a face-to-face summit meeting within the year
>>13196255 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweet: Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
>>13196427 U.S. Department of State Tweet: Video - The UniTed States, Japan, India, and Australia are uniTed in our vision for a free and open, inclusive and healthy Indo-Pacific region
>>13200420 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews moved from ICU - expecting a "very long journey" to recover from a fractured vertebra and several broken ribs
>>13200498 Video: Australia joins US, India and Japan in 'unprecedenTed' deal for coronavirus vaccines after historic Quad meeting
>>13228570 Our four nations are commitTed to a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region - Opinion by Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison and Yoshihide Suga - washingtonpost.com
>>13241716 Scott Morrison's soft-power diplomacy triumphs - Mathias Cormann becomes OECD Secretary-General and the Quad holds its first leadership meeting
>>13247553 ASIO boss Mike Burgess says agency is ditching 'Islamic' and 'right-wing' tags, will now refer to 'religious' or 'ideological' violence
>>13247553 Transcript - ASIO Director-General's Annual Threat Assessment - Wednesday, 17 March 2021
>>13247553 ASIO cracks 'Nest of Spies' seeking access to Australia's Defence secrets - "the country behind the foreign spy ring was not China"

#13341687 at 2021-04-01 06:39:11 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

#14 - Part 12
Australia / China Tensions - Part 1
>>13183795 Quad members hype 'China threat' theory to bolster their boldness - Mu Lu - globaltimes.cn
>>13184102 Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui moves to Australia
>>13184169 Video: Australia's top spy, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess 'knows' culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won't say
>>13184562 Video: End nears for Victoria's Belt and Road deal with Chinese government under foreign veto laws
>>13190373 Chinese takeover of iron ore operations on Cockatoo Island near Australian military training area causes unease inside defence and government
>>13190431 Hong Kong activist Ted Hui welcome to campaign in Australia, says head of government intelligence committee Senator James Paterson
>>13190540 Liberal Party donor Huifeng 'Haha' Liu 'engaged in acts of foreign interference': ASIO
>>13195888 China tells UN Australia's offshore detention centres violate human rights, don't have adequate conditions
>>13196535 Elise Thomas Tweet: They're right. This is something we should be ashamed of and something we need to fix. Whataboutism is a cop-out and we should lead by example on human rights issues
>>13200581 Propelling 'Asian NATO' beyond US capacity: Global Times editorial - globaltimes.cn
>>13241473 Australian media launches false spy accusations against Chinese business man; expatriates from the mainland at risk in the country: analysts - globaltimes.cn

>>13241520 'Just not going to happen': US Indo-Pacific co-ordinator Kurt Campbell warns China over Australian trade stoush - 'we are not going to leave Australia alone on the field'
>>13241531 Campbell's remarks push Australia further to the anti-China frontline - Chen Hong - globaltimes.cn
>>13241570 Britain aligns with Australia against China - Beijing "a systemic challenge" to British prosperity and values
>>13241638 Beijing blames Australia's 'wrong words and deeds' for trade war after US rebuke
>>13241643 Transcript - Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian's Regular Press Conference on March 16, 2021
>>13247914 Video: Don't expect a breakthrough in U.S.-China talks, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd says - CNBC International TV
>>13254571 PDF: Consider reclaiming Darwin Port from Chinese company Landbridge, committee advises federal government
>>13254571 Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth - Inquiry Into Diversifying Australia's Trade And Investment Profile
>>13254635 (2019) Former trade minister Andrew Robb quits China-linked firm Landbridge before foreign interference law kicks in
>>13254654 South Australian Premier Steven Marshall accepts invitation to formally open controversial Adelaide Chinese Consulate
>>13264371 Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan: The US has 'got our back' on Chinese diplomatic disputes
>>13273939 China faces pressure from Australian parliament on treatment of Uighurs, religious minorities

#13341656 at 2021-04-01 06:29:26 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

Notables
are not endorsements

#14 - Part 1
Australian Politics and Society - Part 1
>>13165211, >>13165218 Philippines Foreign Minister Teddy Locsin calls on Myanmar junta to release Aussie Sean Turnell
>>13165331 'It's our turn': Inside the Christian Right conference plotting a political takeover - "Church and State"
>>13165352 Video: The Australian #ChurchAndState Summit 2021 is just for you - Church And State
>>13165358 Video: Cardinal George Pell is a keynote speaker at the Australian #ChurchAndState Summit in 2021 - Church And State
>>13168992 Hopping mad: US campaign to ban kangaroo product imports gains bipartisan support
>>13169146 Video: How extreme right-wing groups have 'weaponised the internet' in Australia
>>13169267 Foreign Minister Marise Payne suspends military aid to Myanmar
>>13173275 Video: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews suffers broken ribs, spine damage after "nasty fall" on "wet and slippery stairs"
>>13173322 Video: Three women go public with allegations against MP Craig Kelly's senior aide, Frank Zumbo - ABC News In-depth
>>13173867 Video: Australian Sean Turnell 'tried to flee Myanmar with secret state financial information', junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says
>>13174865 Video: Anzac Day marches will be held in every capital city after Prime Minister Scott Morrison's intervention - "If people can party and if people can protest, then we can remember as a nation, and honour our veterans on Anzac Day"

>>13177387 Video: Daniel Andrews' recovery could take 'months', decision looms on surgery
>>13177438 Rocco Galati Tweet: Australian Health Minister hospitalized, "in serious condition", day after receiving Covid, Astra-Zeneca, Vaccine
>>13183865 Greg Hunt has been hospitalised with cellulitis. So what is it? And how serious is it?
>>13183855 Scott Morrison says he will act as health minister but Greg Hunt will return to work next week
>>13183787 Video: Scott Morrison to join 'historic' Quad talks with Joe Biden, Yoshihide Suga and Narendra Modi
>>13184102 Former Hong Kong lawmaker and pro-democracy activist Ted Hui moves to Australia
>>13184141 Australian Federal Police push for sweeping online surveillance powers lashed as 'dangerous overreach' by human rights groups
>>13184169 Video: Australia's top spy, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess 'knows' culprit behind ANU cyber attack, but won't say
>>13195850 Australia pulls off stunning diplomatic coup - Mathias Cormann set to be announced as secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
>>13195985 Video: Scott Morrison Facebook Post: A huge honour and recognition for Australia. Well done to Mathias Cormann on being elecTed as the next Secretary-General of the OECD
>>13196051 Scott Morrison Facebook Post: An historic meeting for India, the UniTed States, Japan and Australia - the first ever leaders' meeting of the Quad

>>13196059 Video: First ever Quad Leaders' Meeting - Scott Morrison: My opening remarks to the historic first Quad Meeting involving the leaders of India, the UniTed States, Japan and Australia
>>13196223 President Joe Biden Tweet: This morning, I met virtually with the Quad in the first multilateral summit I've hosTed as president
>>13196242 Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Tweet: I think this meeting was a meeting that was able to take the four countries of Japan, the UniTed States, Australia and India to a new stage. We also agreed to hold a face-to-face summit meeting within the year
>>13196255 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tweet: Our discussions today on vaccines, climate change, and emerging technologies make the Quad a positive force for global good and for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific
>>13196427 U.S. Department of State Tweet: Video - The UniTed States, Japan, India, and Australia are uniTed in our vision for a free and open, inclusive and healthy Indo-Pacific region
>>13200420 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews moved from ICU - expecting a "very long journey" to recover from a fractured vertebra and several broken ribs
>>13200498 Video: Australia joins US, India and Japan in 'unprecedenTed' deal for coronavirus vaccines after historic Quad meeting
>>13228570 Our four nations are commitTed to a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region - Opinion by Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison and Yoshihide Suga - washingtonpost.com
>>13241716 Scott Morrison's soft-power diplomacy triumphs - Mathias Cormann becomes OECD Secretary-General and the Quad holds its first leadership meeting
>>13247553 ASIO boss Mike Burgess says agency is ditching 'Islamic' and 'right-wing' tags, will now refer to 'religious' or 'ideological' violence
>>13247553 Transcript - ASIO Director-General's Annual Threat Assessment - Wednesday, 17 March 2021
>>13247553 ASIO cracks 'Nest of Spies' seeking access to Australia's Defence secrets - "the country behind the foreign spy ring was not China"

#13241520 at 2021-03-17 06:48:28 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

>>13183787
'Just not going to happen': US warns China over Australian trade stoush

Peter Hartcher - March 16, 2021

1/2

The US will not grant China any improvement in relations until Beijing stops its economic coercion of Australia, a senior White House official said.

The administration of President Joe Biden has told the Chinese government that "we are not going to leave Australia alone on the field", according to the President's Indo-Pacific co-ordinator, Kurt Campbell.

"We have made clear that the US is not prepared to improve relations in a bilateral and separate context at the same time that a close and dear ally is being subjecTed to a form of economic coercion," he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in the first interview a senior Biden official has given to any Australian media.

Dr Campbell is often described as Mr Biden's "Asia tsar". His appointment was hailed as super-charging the US effort to gather allies to confront an increasingly aggressive China. He served as the top Asia official for Hillary Clinton when she was Barack Obama's secretary of state. He crafTed the Obama administration's pivot to Asia and served in the Pentagon under president Bill Clinton.

He said Mr Biden had given his commitment personally to Australia's leader, Scott Morrison, during the video-link summit of the Quad countries last Saturday (AEDT).

"President Biden was very direct with Prime Minister Morrison that we stood together on this," said Dr Campbell, the architect of the summit, who was in the room with Mr Biden during the meeting.

"So we've indicaTed both to Australia and China at the highest levels that we are fully aware of what's going on and we are not prepared to take substantial steps to improve relations until those policies are addressed and a more normal interplay between Canberra and Beijing is established."

It is the first known intervention of any nation to take substantive steps in support of Australia in its confrontation with Beijing.

The regime of President Xi Jinping has applied trade bans and tariffs on at least $20 billion worth of Australian exports to China.

As recently as last week, China's embassy in Canberra threatened that "China-Australia relations will only sustain further damage" after Australia granTed a visa to a Hong Kong pro-democracy politician, Ted Hui Chi-fung.

"It's almost an obvious statement of the role of allies and the importance of Australia that we are not going to leave Australia alone on the field," said Dr Campbell.

"It's just not going to happen. I want to underscore this - that reality should not come as a surprise. This matter has been raised in every meeting [with Chinese officials] and it will be underscored in interactions in Anchorage later this week," when the US secretaries of state and defence are scheduled to meet their Chinese counterparts in the first major face-to-face contact between the Biden administration and Beijing.

"That, in and of itself, is a substantial step," Dr Campbell said. He added that US economic officials would be discussing further options with Australian and other counterparts.

(continued)

#13190431 at 2021-03-12 08:54:16 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

>>13184102
Hong Kong activist welcome to campaign in Australia, says head of government intelligence committee

Reuters - 11 March 2021

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui is welcome to campaign on political issues in Australia and his arrival was not a matter for China, the chair of the Australian parliament's intelligence committee said on Thursday.

In the first comments from an Australian government member since Hui arrived from London on Monday, the chairman of the parliament's committee on intelligence and security, James Paterson, said immigration policy was a "purely domestic sovereign issue for Australia".

Hui, who fled Hong Kong late last year after facing criminal charges over democracy protests, said he moved from London to Australia to extend the reach of the pro-democracy movement's international lobbying.

Australia had a large community of Hong Kong people but no democracy movement leadership, he said.

In a statement on Hui, the Chinese embassy in Australia said it "urges the Australian side to stop meddling in Hong Kong's affairs and China's internal affairs in any way. Otherwise the China-Australia relations will only sustain further damage".

"Any visitor to Australia, whether they are a citizen or not, enjoys all the rights and freedoms that Australians enjoy. They enjoy freedom of speech, freedom of political campaign, so he is welcome to do that here," Senator Paterson told ABC radio.

He added, "other visitors that have a different view to him are welcome to put their arguments too".

Hui was granTed a tourist visa, an exemption to Australia's closed border policy, and government assistance to secure seats for his family on a repatriation flight from London. He said he didn't intend to seek asylum.

The government intelligence committee held a public hearing on Thursday on national security risks to the university sector, which has focused on research collaboration with China.

https://news.trust.org/item/20210310232812-k5but/

#13184102 at 2021-03-11 05:22:49 (UTC+1)
Q Research AUSTRALIA #14 - THE ART OF WAR Edition

Former Hong Kong lawmaker moves to Australia

Kirsty Needham - 9 March 2021

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Ted Hui has arrived in Australia where his family will settle after the Australian government provided an exemption to its closed border policy and assistance with flights, he says.

A former Democratic party lawmaker, Hui left Hong Kong late last year after facing criminal charges over the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

His arrival in Australia comes as 47 pro-democracy activists have been charged in Hong Kong with conspiracy to commit subversion under a new national security law, because they participaTed in an unofficial primary last July to select the strongest candidates for a legislative council election.

Hui, a member of the legislative council since 2016, was preselecTed to represent Hong Kong island for the election.

He said it had been painful to watch in the past week as his close colleagues were jailed after being denied bail in marathon hearings in the subversion case.

"As a participant in the primary election and a winner, I see it as a ridiculous act and unreasonable for the regime to put any accusation on us when it was totally peaceful," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

He is undergoing a 14-day mandatory quarantine after arriving in Australia on Monday.

"It is only because it is against Beijing's will that people are thrown into jail."

Hui said he had decided to move to Australia from Britain, where he has spent the past three months, to spread the international reach of the pro-democracy activists.

"I feel more responsible now as an exile to tell the world how ridiculous it is," he said.

Hui said during the interview that the coronavirus pandemic was stable in Australia, and he would be able to undertake face-to-face lobbying work.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday announcing his move, Hui said that Australia and New Zealand are important members of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group that also includes the UniTed States, UniTed Kingdom and Canada, which have endorsed the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

"I hope that my lobbying work will make the two countries tougher against China, have stronger support and actions towards the freedom of Hong Kong," he said in the post.

As part of his lobbying, Hui told Reuters he would also seek more flexible visas for Hong Kong people seeking to come to Australia.

Hui said he was grateful to the Australian government for granting a visa and a place on a repatriation flight from London. He said he did not intend to apply for political asylum.

https://thewest.com.au/politics/former-hk-lawmaker-moves-to-australia-ng-s-2052695