Bombshell report claims NZ leaders ‘in denial’ over Chinese influence

• The Australian
• 12:00AM 
• September 22, 2017
• 
  

The author of a bombshell study of China’s infiltration of public life in New Zealand warns that the nation’s political leaders are “in denial” about the threat.

Professor Anne-Marie Brady’s report, “Magic Weapons: China’s political influence activities under Xi Jinping”, lifts the lid on efforts by China to woo opinion-shapers in New Zealand by cultivating business links with ex-politicians and donating to political parties.

It details how National Party MP Jian Yang taught Chinese spies English during a 15-year career in the People’s Liberation Army, before he emigrated and entered New Zealand politics. Mr Yang has labelled the spy claims defamatory.

Professor Brady identified possible military applications for near-space balloons tested on dairy farms owned by Chinese conglomerate Shanghai-Penxin, whose bid for the Kidman cattle empire in northern Australia was blocked by Treasurer Scott Morrison on national-interest grounds.

Speaking from Washington, Professor Brady said New Zealand was not taking the exercise of “soft power” by Beijing as seriously as Australia.

Prime Minister Bill English said there was “no obvious” sign of inappropriate conduct by the Chinese, while Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern said she was interested in Australia’s response, and could take up the issue after tomorrow’s general election in New Zealand.

“Your government was taking this issue very seriously before ours,” Professor Brady said. “The public response from our politicians has been somewhat disappointing. I know there is an election campaign, so probably they are in damage-control mode. But the big difference is the parties in Australia have recognised that China’s influence activities are a serious threat and have a bipartisan agreement to deal with them.”

Malcolm Turnbull in June ordered a review of laws covering espionage and foreign interference in Australia’s political processes following reports that ASIO had warned both the ALP and the Liberal Party against accepting donations from two property billionaires with concerning links to the Chinese Community Party.

Professor Brady said Chinese-language media in New Zealand already toed the line set be Beijing while The New Zealand Herald had a content-sharing deal with a local Chinese-language paper serviced by Chinese government news service Xinhua.

A “cone of silence” existed about the extent of the Chinese penetration of New Zealand politics, she said.