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U.S. 'surprised' at Chinese influence-buying in Australia

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Ouch. Money talks.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Basically once funneled through a lobbying agency the money becomes legit even in the US.

They all need to cap and report ALL campaign fundings.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

As Americans, we are the only ones allowed to give donations to foreign countries or government officials in order to influence the political landscape of that country. That's our specialty.

That being said, It's wrong when other countries do it. If China continues to do it, and Australia plays along, we'll hit both countries with sanctions, if that doesn't work, we'll bomb them. We are the "self - appointed" police of the world and are above any law that exist in this world!!!!

5 ( +11 / -6 )

A lot of "donations" from many sources needs to be banned, basically companies should NOT be able to donate in any way shape of form, its grown into a huge problem worldwide.

I think donations should ONLY be able to come from people who can VOTE, and then severely LIMIT that amount, politics has gotten so utterly filthy it is in serious need of cleaning up in many countries. This is also why many people are so apathetic when it comes to politics, they see their votes counting for less & less each year & sadly that's TRUE!!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I guess politicians in the US are jealous that Australia is getting more of the graft now? The Chinese began their influence-buying in America during the Clinton presidency, and Bill Clinton collected a cool $750,000 by a Chinese industry group in 2011.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Was only a matter of time before so called allies started sticking their noses into Oz sometimes bizarre relationships with China. Fair enough!

A couple of months ago the ABC (oz public broadcaster) was accused (by their own ppl) of censoring news published on their Chinese website: everything seems to be filtered through rose-tinted glasses i.e no human rights issues, everyone's happy in china and so on.

As an aside, I don't think that many foreign countries can lecture Oz about corruption, bribes, dirty money etc though; they may not accept donations as such but am pretty sure they are more than happy to accept not-so-clean money (i.e the US and others have never had any scruples selling weapons to Irag, Saudi Arabia and other dodgy countries).

Berry, no moral high ground (maaaate).

5 ( +7 / -2 )

The politicians in Australia have long been a disgrace to the nation, now we know a lot of them have hit a new low; borderline treason. I agree that foreign donations need to be culled, especially at a time where Chinese SOEs are trying to buy up strategic Australian assets. It would be a true crime against Australia if some of these national asset deals went through because of foreign bribes

5 ( +8 / -3 )

goldorak

There are various laws placed just for that purpose.

For example a foreign entity cannot obtain more than 10% of stocks of nation wide media in Japan. Japanese national politicians are forbidden to accept donations from a foreigner and some had been accused of this in the past. They are also a cap in how much they can receive from a corporate entity and all donations must be recorded and submitted to the election management committee.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@triring, am not disputing that at all, I can see that Chinese money is 'influencing' the way politics and biz are run in oz pretty much everyday. I am in full agreement this has to stop.

The point I was trying to make is about the whistleblower himself: is it the role of a US envoy to lecture a country about this? I would have welcomed such point if it had been made by an independent, international organization (or other aussie politicians, media etc which is what happened) not so much a US envoy whose govt isnt beyond reproach when it comes to accepting money from dirty regimes.

Let's face it most countries accept money they should not. Am all for that to change but I just don't think it was the right time, place and person to make such remark (imagine a similar 'lecture' made by a foreign envoy in Washington, Paris or Berlin!? Not sure the hosts would have been too happy about that)

4 ( +4 / -0 )

That, to us, is of concern. We cannot conceive of a case where a foreign donation from any government, friend or foe, would be considered legitimate in terms of that democracy

LOL, Hello kettle, how do you categorize the 38 billion over ten years to Israel? Or the billions wasted on Egypt? Jezuz what a joke!!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Really, where do these "oh I didn't know experts" come from and better yet how did they get the job. Useless and worthless pay of US tax payer dollars. China has been tossing chump change in many local elections all over Asia, hell Okinawa closest to home, SK, even in our own Japan elections. Just watch the political ties to China favoritism and the influence can clearly be seen. Recent events and turn of tide, the Philippines. hahaha. and they now see this...too late way too late...start packing Americans and get ready to go home.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

They need to be banned. And those caught made an example of with some very strong prison time. I don't know how Turnball can defend the indefensible. Basically he is saying its wrong, but its all too hard to fix it, apparently due to some constitutional reasons. Nonsense. You just can't keep your snout out of the trough and everyone knows it. Need to maintain the rage on this issue.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

A high percentage of Aussies - myself included - hold dual passports/foreign citizenship. It would open up a pandoras box if they banned all who hold foreign citizenship from political donations!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"However, the government’s first foreign land register last week showed that British and U.S. investors own far more agricultural land in Australia than Chinese nationals do."

Yes but British and US companies are unlikely to be fully or partially state owned enterprises which can be controlled by a totalitarian dictatorship. Buying up a country is the same as invading a country but far cheaper and easier. All the developed countries are aware of China's tactics, time for Australia to wake up.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

bjohnson23

Local elections and national elections are not the same since local elections do not have influence over national security with Okinawa being a rare exception.

I don't mind foreign enterprises participating in local elections where they have vested interest within the local community but in terms of national security, people who accepts funds should be tossed into prison for treason.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that Australia decided not to purchase Japanese submarines. Otherwise Japan's defense secrets would have got into Chinese hands.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Buying up a country is the same as invading a country but far cheaper and easier. All the developed countries are aware of China's tactics, time for Australia to wake up.

What is your take on the Chinese buying up prime real-estate in Tokyo and agricultural land, hotels and resort areas in Hokkaido? Is it time for Japan to wake up, too?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

George Carlin might have said:

"Buying foreign leaders off? To screw the little guy?!"

That's OUR JOB!!"

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Bribing and influence-buying have been the two notorious characters of China and the Huaqiao communities in Southeast Asia. Watch out for the Chinese tricks in Australia because the under-populated Australia would be the long-ranged target of Xi Jin-ping's assertiveness. Unfortunately, Beijing's agents have been in the country since the 1980s, via the Sino-Vietnamese "boat-people" and the massive "political dissidents" after the Tiananmen Infamy. Those who are familiar with the Chinese residents in Malaya, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, or VietNam, Laos, Kampuchea could tell all of the Chinoiseries.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I would not take one penny from China. All it does us open the door to corruption.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Lol well the USA should clean its own house. The democrats are trying to elect the totally corrupt Hillary Clinton who is just as guilty of taking foreign bribe money for favors as secretary of state, appear to be funding her campaign through PACs and her money laundering clinton foundation. We can only conclude if she is president, she will double downn on influence selling.

It also looks like the entire democratic party is being funded by a variety of foreign governments directly or through proxies, including governments being run by terror groups like the muslim brotherhood or terror sympathizers like Saudi Arabia.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Such is the way the third world does business. Sad to drag Australia (apparently some willing participants) down into that type of behaviour.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

BurakuminDesSep. 15, 2016 - 12:10AM JST "Buying up a country is the same as invading a country but far cheaper and easier. All the developed countries are aware of China's tactics, time for Australia to wake up. What is your take on the Chinese buying up prime real-estate in Tokyo and agricultural land, hotels and resort areas in Hokkaido? Is it time for Japan to wake up, too?

Suggest you re-read my post. If they are individual purchase no. But if they are corporate purchases maybe. If they are purchase by giant Chinese corporations yes. If they involve anything even remotely related to infrastructure and national security, yes.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Maybe it was a blessing in disguise that Australia decided not to purchase Japanese submarines. Otherwise Japan's defense secrets would have got into Chinese hands

It is a blessing, although I doubt an Australian politician would sell those secrets, more likely they would be stolen through hacking. Australian government systems are being hacked on a daily basis by China and yet our political elite like to claim we can all be friends. Not likely.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I doubt any country will buy French sub secrets. NK might. Meanwhile, orders for subs are increased in J and G, not A or F.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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