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https://twitter.com/KittySn52889207/status/1276353613690855424?s=19
Australia investigates alleged Chinese plot to install spy MP
25 November 2019
What are the allegations?
On Sunday, Nine’s 60 Minutes programme reported that suspected Chinese agents approached a luxury car dealer, Bo “Nick” Zhao, ahead of Australia’s general election – which took place in May.
They allegedly offered him A$1m (£520,000; $680,000) to fund his run for a Melbourne seat as a candidate for the ruling Liberal Party, of which Mr Zhao was already a member.
Mr Zhao gave information about the alleged approach to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) last year, Nine reported.
He was found dead in a hotel room in Melbourne in March. Police have not been able to establish how or why he died, and his death has prompted a coroner’s inquiry.
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What’s the background?
There is an ongoing debate about Chinese influence in Australian politics and society.
Some politicians have accused Beijing of trying to infiltrate Canberra through donations and other means. Others, however, believe the allegations are fuelling xenophobia and putting at risk the nation’s prosperity because China is Australia’s largest trading partner.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50541082
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Excerpts:
https://twitter.com/KittySn52889207/status/1276354916458459137?s=19
Claim of Chinese spy plot in Australia ‘deeply disturbing’, Scott Morrison says
Mon 25 Nov 2019 03.51 GMT
Last modified on Mon 25 Nov 2019 03.56 GMT
Prime minister Scott Morrison says Australia is “not naive” to the threat of foreign interference amid explosive claims that the Chinese communist party wanted to infiltrate Australia’s parliament.
Describing the alleged plot as “deeply disturbing and troubling”, Morrison said the government was determined to protect Australians from foreign interference and had bolstered laws to strengthen the powers of intelligence agencies.
“Australia is not naive to the threats that it faces more broadly … and that’s why we strengthened the laws, why we increased the resources, that’s why we established the Department of Home Affairs, to bring together all of this in a single portfolio, to ensure Australia was in the best possible position to deal with any threats that come our way,” Morrison said.
“I can assure Australians that under our government, the resources have never been stronger, the laws have never been tougher, and the government has never been more determined to keep Australians free and safe from foreign interference.”
However, he said he would not draw conclusions on an alleged Chinese plot to infiltrate Australia’s parliament that aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday, pointing to an Asio investigation that is under way.
“I find the allegations deeply disturbing and troubling, and I refer you to the [Asio] director-general’s statement, which said that these matters were already under investigation, and those investigations are continuing,” Morrison said.
“I would caution anyone leaping to any conclusions about these matters, and that’s why we have these agencies.”
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