China related

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The short version of this is making headlines, as a Chinese businessman is denied visa to Australia:

'A man of many dimensions': the big Chinese donor now in Canberra's sights
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-man-of-many-dimensions-the-big-chinese-donor-now-in-canberra-s-sights-20190206-p50vzt.html

"The activities of Huang Xiangmo, and how Australia’s attitude to him has flipped, give rare insight into how our relationship with China under Xi Jinping is changing before our eyes.

Huang’s gradual fall from grace has been the product of an awakening in Australia, stoked by a few China experts in government, a small group of journalists and an increasing number of politicians. It involves a realisation that the Communist Party’s influence activities are not as benign, and far more entrenched in Australia, as many in government had once believed...

...ACRI and Carr would become the main public foil to academics, politicians and security agencies warning that the Communist Party was using proxies in Australia to influence political debate and limit dissent among Australia’s local Chinese population...

...The Peaceful Reunification Council claimed to be an apolitical NGO dedicated to improving cultural and business ties between China and Australia.

But paperwork produced by the council, and reviewed by The Age and Herald, revealed it as the Australian affiliate of the United Front Work Department, a Communist Party agency tasked with overseas influence activities.

United Front Work has been elevated under Xi to a means of advancing the Communist Party’s agenda in China and overseas, including its efforts to weaken US alliances and reclaim contested territory, including islands in the South China Sea."
 
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https://www.theepochtimes.com/norway-warns-about-threats-from-chinese-intelligence-operations-investments_2791021.html

China’s National Security Law, which took effect in June 2017, requires China-based companies, operating domestically or abroad, to surrender information to Beijing on request.

China has expressed interest in creating a new shipping route that goes through the Arctic, taking advantage of the melting Arctic ice sheet.

Chinese regime wishes to invest in Kirkenes, a port city facing the Barents Sea, which is south of the Arctic Ocean. Finnish media reported that authorities in Kirkenes were interested in turning the city into a key transit hub for China’s Arctic shipping route.
 
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You are presenting some really interesting info..... can I ask what your personal take on all of this is?
Basically, when we take a good look at what is happening now, you can see the world rapidly dividing into two camps. This is happening rapidly. China has been and continues to grow at an unprecedented rate, not only economically, but also with the amount of influence globally, and increasing military strength and capability, etc.

The thought therefore with this thread is to post any interesting news and developments regarding China. It seems that for some time, China's deals have been thought of by many unsuspecting countries to be benign in nature and to be of benefit to the countries getting involved but that perception has started to change, as hidden agendas are being uncovered.

My hope therefore is to add more to this thread, if/when possible as time goes on and to also invite you and the others here to consider looking into this topic and to add news, videos, etc. that may be found interesting. The subject of China's unprecedented growth and development is quite vast and the implications are far reaching. So, basically the hope is this thread might be useful for learning more about it.
 
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Thank you for this addition JoChris.

From the article:

"Beijing has an entire military unit tasked with carrying out these sorts of actions — the People's Liberation Army Unit 61398, a covert operation blamed in 2014 for stealing secrets from US companies."

Australia is starting to align with the US (and the UK - for instance with the new post-Brexit trade deal) and backing away from China - maybe they will be targeted more and more.
 
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JoChris

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Thank you for this addition JoChris.

From the article:

"Beijing has an entire military unit tasked with carrying out these sorts of actions — the People's Liberation Army Unit 61398, a covert operation blamed in 2014 for stealing secrets from US companies."

Australia is starting to align with the US (and the UK - for instance with the new post-Brexit trade deal) and backing away from China - maybe they will be targeted more and more.
When forced into a corner Australia will choose USA. They have been a very strong military ally and friend for a long time.
The problem is that China has been buying both private and public property for so long that Australia will be terribly financially affected if that ever happens.

The average Aussie has been sickened at politicians' chasing quick fixes for financial problems. China has 99 year leases of multiple ports for Heaven's sake!
E.g. USA uses Darwin as a port frequently. It is the capital city of northern Territory and largest port on north side of Australia. https://www.afr.com/business/infrastructure/chineseowned-darwin-port-struggling-to-pay-back-debts-20180615-h11gcr
 

JoChris

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(this from one of @UnderAlienControl recent posts, it fits this topic too well! - thx UnderAlienControl)
Ad from a very controversial politician's party. I agree with PUP on this matter. I lived in Karratha for several years. A category 5 military posting, most isolated category (husband loved it, I like most wives loathed it).

The Pilbara region's isolation gives the Chinese room to get up to mischief. The military base there is pretty small. The only other bases in Western Australia are much further south, from memory Perth area (1500 kms south).

I cannot in good conscience vote for Clive Palmer though, knowing what he did to his Townsville workers. He paid donations to his party instead of paying redundancies.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/17/clive-palmers-queensland-nickel-defends-donation-to-pup-before-job-cuts
If a politician won't even look after his own workers why does he deserve any votes?
 

AD HOC

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Ad from a very controversial politician's party. I agree with PUP on this matter. I lived in Karratha for several years. A category 5 military posting, most isolated category (husband loved it, I like most wives loathed it).

The Pilbara region's isolation gives the Chinese room to get up to mischief. The military base there is pretty small. The only other bases in Western Australia are much further south, from memory Perth area (1500 kms south).

I cannot in good conscience vote for Clive Palmer though, knowing what he did to his Townsville workers. He paid donations to his party instead of paying redundancies.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/17/clive-palmers-queensland-nickel-defends-donation-to-pup-before-job-cuts
If a politician won't even look after his own workers why does he deserve any votes?



and, there is this too.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/clive-palmer-sets-up-kiwi-company-threatens-to-sue-taxpayers/10734744

Clive Palmer has channelled his corporate empire through New Zealand and threatened to use free trade rules to sue Australian taxpayers for $45 billion as part of a dispute with a Chinese mining company.
That company, Mineralogy International Limited (MIL), last week flagged using investor protections under the trans-Tasman free trade agreement to claim $45 billion in damages from the Commonwealth if the Western Australian government intervenes against Mr Palmer in his latest dispute with Chinese state-owned Citic.
 
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and, there is this too.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-22/clive-palmer-sets-up-kiwi-company-threatens-to-sue-taxpayers/10734744

Clive Palmer has channelled his corporate empire through New Zealand and threatened to use free trade rules to sue Australian taxpayers for $45 billion as part of a dispute with a Chinese mining company.
That company, Mineralogy International Limited (MIL), last week flagged using investor protections under the trans-Tasman free trade agreement to claim $45 billion in damages from the Commonwealth if the Western Australian government intervenes against Mr Palmer in his latest dispute with Chinese state-owned Citic.
It perhaps gets more interesting if looking at why:

From the article -

"It cannot be a proper purpose to take from an Australian asset and in effect give it to a Chinese government-owned entity for a commercial purpose for that party to exploit," he said.

The Australia-NZ Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement forces both countries to pay fair and prompt compensation to investors who are deprived of their assets "either directly or indirectly".

However, either government can "expropriate" assets if it does so "for a public purpose, in a non-discriminatory manner, on payment of prompt, adequate and effective compensation (and) in accordance with due process of law".

Mr Palmer told the Australian newspaper that "Mark McGowan would be making the taxpayer of Australia pay for this".

He said he had "invested in New Zealand and I've encouraged that New Zealand company to invest in Australia, which it has".

Which seems like it could be a valid point.
 
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While China expects cultural acceptance world-wide, it doesn't tolerate other cultures within its own borders. Please read: Inside the re-education camps China is using to brainwash Muslims -

'Permanent cure': Inside the re-education camps China is using to brainwash Muslims
  • Chinese authorities have ensnared tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of Muslim Chinese — and even foreign citizens — in mass internment camps.
  • The re-education camps are shrouded in secrecy and operate outside of the legal system.
  • Prisoners are physically and mentally tortured in efforts to quash religious beliefs and any potential separatist movements.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) — Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow their Islamic beliefs, criticize themselves and their loved ones and give thanks to the ruling Communist Party.

 
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China Tells Christians to Replace Images of Jesus with Communist President
Propaganda effort in poor province latest sign of Xi Jinping consolidating control.

Thousands of Christian villagers in China have been told to take down displays of Jesus, crosses, and gospel passages from their homes as part of a government propaganda effort to “transform believers in religion into believers in the party.”

 
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JoChris

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Over the weekend, pictures of the Tiananmen Square protest began popping up on one of the internet's most popular websites.
So did pictures of Winnie the Pooh. And threads praising Taiwan.
......
If you're not super familiar with it, Reddit is a website that bills itself as the "front page of the internet". ....
Notably, Reddit is blocked in China.
.....
Some of the world's most popular videogames (League of Legends, Fortnite, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Clash of Clans) are either part or fully owned by Tencent, but in China the company is known for its music and social media services.
It owns the enormously popular Chinese social media app WeChat.
And while Tencent isn't state owned, it hasn't been afraid of working closely with the Chinese Government to carry out censorship on its WeChat platform.

Reddit users didn't take kindly to the potential investment


Whole story: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-11/reddit-users-revolt-on-news-of-chinese-investment/10798584

If he was a person, Winnie the Pooh would feel insulted to be compared to Xi JinPing. Pooh bear is far better looking. :)
 

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