Loading ...Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would introduce legislation to limit political meddling by foreign powers, citing reports of Chinese influence over a local lawmaker and Russia’s U.S. election interference.
Australians were familiar with the “very credible reports” that Russia sought to actively undermine and influence the U.S. election, Turnbull said.
Under the legislation, which wasn’t expected to be voted on until next year, the definition of espionage and treason would be updated to make failing to report the receipt of information — not just passing it on — an offense.
“Foreign intelligence services are engaged in covert influence and interference on an unprecedented scale,” Turnbull said. “This activity is being directed against a range of Australian interests, from our political systems, to our commercial interests, to expatriate communities who have made Australia their home.”
Australia has long sought to balance its military alliance with the U.S., which bases as many as 2,500 Marines in the country, and China, which is its largest trading partner. China’s rising soft-power influence and militarization of the South China Sea have become an increasing concern in the Asia-Pacific region.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular briefing Tuesday in Beijing that he hadn’t seen Turnbull’s comments, but said that “China has no intention of interfering in Australia’s domestic politics and has no intention of using political contributions to influence Australia’s domestic affairs.”
“We once again urge Australia to discard prejudice and use a fair and objective attitude to view China and China-Australia relations,” Geng said. “A stable China-Australia relationship is not only in the interest of China. It is also in the interest of Australia.”
Comment:
WATCH OUT for Europe Russia and China, NOT, N. Korea, Iran, Syria and Cuba. Decoys, diversionary tactics, false media info.