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Australia: The South Pacific Frontline in the Battle against Foreign Interference
American Thinker ^ | 09/26/2018 | Tarric Brooker

Posted on 09/26/2018 7:30:28 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

When many Americans think of Australia, things like white sandy beaches, kangaroos, and Steve Irwin come to mind – an image that is at times more of a caricature than an actual country.

What actually goes on in Australia, especially in its politics, is an unknown to most people not from the Land Down Under. It's usually not that well covered by the media, especially since the advent of Brexit and Donald Trump's presidency.

There is, however, an extremely dangerous trend in Australian politics that should concern lawmakers and political regulatory bodies across the democratic world. That's the foreign interference and strong-arming within Australia's political sphere.

Americans are most familiar with the foreign interference in the democratic process stemming from the allegations of Russian interference in the U.S. election of 2016. But in Australia, politicians at both a state and a federal level have been forced to resign after being caught in involvement with companies or individuals with ties to the Communist Party of China.

The Chinese influence in Australian politics is already very real, as the country relies heavily on China economically for its continued prosperity.

Australia managed to dodge the "Great Recession" largely as a result of Chinese domestic stimulus measures that boosted the Australian resources and mining sectors. The Chinese stimulus allowed Australia to not only avoid recession, but enjoy an economic boom while the rest of the world suffered through the global financial crisis. Since then, sectors of the Australian economy have become more and more dependent on Chinese consumers and capital.

In recent years, Australia has undergone a major apartment-building boom underpinned by Chinese investors purchasing the properties. The boom has become so large as a result that Australian cities have more large cranes working on construction projects than the United States,

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: australia; military; southpacific

1 posted on 09/26/2018 7:30:29 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

LOL. I thought this was gonna be about Alexander Downer.


2 posted on 09/26/2018 7:37:01 AM PDT by mewzilla (Has the FBI been spying on members of Congress?)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’ve often wondered if, in the most secretive recesses of chicomdom, there is some grand, long-range scheme to take over Australia — lotsa land, resources and strategic positioning to be gained. Hmmmm.
That would fit in with a generalized practice of interference in Aussie elections, as well as making them gradually addicted to fairly one-sided commerce.


3 posted on 09/26/2018 7:47:38 AM PDT by Migraine (<)
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To: SeekAndFind

They will remain independent and provincial right up to moment China surrounds their island with gunboats, then it will once again become our business, just like when Hitler turned out to be not so nice. And keep importing muslims you nice white, but terribly naive people.


4 posted on 09/26/2018 7:47:41 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: SeekAndFind

Australia managed to dodge the “Great Recession” largely as a result of Chinese domestic stimulus measures that boosted the Australian resources and mining sectors.
***********************************************
Bullcrap. Australia wasn’t severely impacted by the “Great Recession” because they didn’t have idiots like Barnie Frank forcing its nation’s banks to grant MILLIONS of mortgages to people not even capable of paying their phone bills on time.


5 posted on 09/26/2018 8:06:22 AM PDT by House Atreides (BOYCOTT the NFL, its products and players 100% - PERMANENTLY)
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To: SeekAndFind; gandalftb

And now they can use lethal force:
Our ASIS officers often work in dangerous locations, including under warlike conditions, to protect Australia and our interests. As the world becomes more complex, the overseas operating environment for ASIS also becomes more complex.

This will allow an ASIS staff member or agent performing specified activities outside Australia to be able to use reasonable force in the course of their duties.

Currently, ASIS officers are only able to use weapons for self-protection, or the protection of other staff members or agents cooperating with ASIS. The changes will mean officers are able to protect a broader range of people and use reasonable force if someone poses a risk to an operation.

https://www.miragenews.com/intelligence-services-act-amendment-bill-2018/


6 posted on 11/29/2018 6:32:25 AM PST by AdmSmith (GCTGATATGTCTATGATTACTCAT)
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To: SeekAndFind; AdmSmith

The Aussies are great allies.

Australia cut a deal with China years ago to market Chinese cloned products that China cannot sell directly because of trademark/copyright/patent issues. Big money for the Aussies.

We have many military interests with the Aussies also.


7 posted on 11/29/2018 10:26:57 AM PST by gandalftb
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