Posted on 12/04/2019 9:03:08 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Would-be defector Wang Liqiang seemed to confirm Australia’s worst fears of Chinese infiltration. The fresh-faced, bespectacled 27-year-old, dubbed the “first Chinese operative to ever blow his cover”, recounted alarming tales of espionage and political sabotage in Australia, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Wang recalled meeting with the head of a spy ring operating freely down under, coordinating a “cyber army” to manipulate public opinion during elections in Taiwan, working with a front company charged with infiltrating Hong Kong universities and media, and ordering the kidnapping of one of the five Hong Kong booksellers known to sell titles critical of the leadership in Beijing who were spirited away to the mainland in 2015.
But less than a fortnight later, Wang’s claims are increasingly being viewed not as proof of long-held concerns in a country transfixed by reports of Chinese meddling, but a cautionary tale about rushing to judgment and Sinophobia-tinged paranoia.
“It is a fact that Australian journalists, commentators and politicians more hawkish on China and more invested in the ‘China threat’ narrative were the ones breaking the Wang Liqiang story and talking it up,” said James Laurenceson, acting director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney.
“The Wang Liqiang story is just the latest example of claims running ahead of an evidence base in Australia.”
On Friday, the Sydney-based Daily Telegraph reported that Australian intelligence officials had briefed Prime Minister Scott Morrison on their assessment that Wang was not a Chinese spy “at a level that would attract any interest from Australia”.
The report, based on multiple unnamed security sources and witheringly titled “China Spy Farce”, said the consensus among the intelligence services was that while Wang may have been involved in “very low-level” work, he did not operate in Australia and would “not have value”
(Excerpt) Read more at scmp.com ...
Beijing has described Wang as a scam artist and his allegations as “absurd”, and Chinese state media last week released video footage purporting to show him confessing to fraud during a 2016 trial. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday that Wang had likely made his claims to gain residency in Australia and described reports of espionage and interference in the country by Beijing as a “shoddy soap opera”.
... besides, Australia really needs that special Chinese trade relationship...
RE: ... besides, Australia really needs that special Chinese trade relationship...
China buys a huge chunk of Australia’s food and natural resources. She can’t afford to piss off the Chicoms.
South China Post?
That’s their new name for Australia? South China?
RE: South China Post?
This paper is based in Hong Kong.
It was purchased by Alibaba founder, Jack Ma.
If you look at the opinion pieces in this paper, it contains BOTH editorials AGAINST and IN FAVOR of Beijing.
So.... was a Hong Kong paper... bought out by a Red-Chinese investor. Kinda like the Democrats.
“Beijing has described Wang as a scam artist and his allegations as “absurd”, and Chinese state media last week released video footage purporting to show him confessing to fraud during a 2016 trial. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday that Wang had likely made his claims to gain residency in Australia and described reports of espionage and interference in the country by Beijing as a “shoddy soap opera”.”
Just like conspiracy theories against the Biden’s are all debunked.
RE: So.... was a Hong Kong paper... bought out by a Red-Chinese investor. Kinda like the Democrats.
Yes, but their report about Australia’s caution and skepticism about some of this young “spy’s” claims are accurate.
SEE HERE:
Now, that is a report from the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
When I first read this couple weeks back I thought Wang might have been giving them false or misleading info. Another Chinese game to spread disinformation.
The Aussie Intelligence are not that gullible. From the very first day this young man defected, they already proceeded with extreme caution regarding his claims.
[Yes, but their report about Australia’s caution and skepticism about some of this young “spy’s” claims are accurate.
SEE HERE:
Now, that is a report from the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD]
Trump is a strategic gift for Beijing
https://neican.substack.com/p/trump-is-a-strategic-gift-for-beijing
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