A Conversation on Chinese Influence in Australia and Beyond
The Center for Strategic and International Studies held an event to highlight Clive Hamilton’s new book, Silent Invasion: China’s Influence in Australia on October 18, 2018. Watch on YouTube or read a summary.
Some items of note from a fascinating discussion:
– The distinction: influence is transparent and lawful and interference is covert, corrupt or coercive
– This is why you hear VP Pence say that Russia is a short-term irritating disturbance but in the long-term, the PRC is the real issue for the U.S.
– Russia has a short term goal and after that, they don’t know – China has a far more long-term, subtle, carefully thought through objective which is to control the practices of institutions and people are involved in exercise of democracy
– Australia’s Foreign Interference Law Section 92.2 defines foreign interference. We are criminalizing forms of influence that are covert, or threatening on behalf of a foreign power that try to influence government processes or the exercise of democratic rights
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