Where
is the support from this govt for Anne Marie Brady and who was
harassing her. Chinese communists or our security people?
China's
communist party has so much power in New Zealand that western
countries might stop sharing intelligence
TARA
FRANCIS CHAN
- A former CIA China expert proposed cutting New Zealand out of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing arrangement with the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
- The ex-analyst said the action should be taken in response to New Zealand’s prime ministers’ denials of any influence attempts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
- Both Australia and Zealand have been hosting intense discussions over CCP influence.
- Australian media recently confirmed a secret government report that uncovered CCP influence within all levels of politics.
29
May, 2019
A
former CIA analyst has raised the prospect of kicking New Zealand out
of an international intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the
US.
Five
Eyes is the name of the intelligence alliance between the US, UK,
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that has routinely shared
sensitive intelligence since 1955. But failure to respond to
interference attempts by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) should
endanger New Zealand’s membership, Peter Mattis, a former CIA China
expert testified to the US-China Economic and Security Review
Commission last month.
“In
New Zealand, both the last prime minister, Bill English, and Jacinda
Ardern, have denied that there’s a problem at all,” Mattis, now a
fellow at The Jamestown Foundation, said.
“To
quickly move to a recommendation, I think that at some level the Five
Eyes, or the Four Eyes, need to have a discussion about whether or
not New Zealand can remain given this problem with the political
core, and it needs to be put in those terms so that New Zealand’s
government understands that the consequences are substantial for not
thinking through and addressing some of the problems that they face.
The
committee heard from a number of experts on Beijing’s relations
with US allies and its attempts to influence these nations, a subject
of intense discussion in New Zealand and Australia in recent months.
“Australia
and New Zealand both face substantial problems with interference by
the CCP. In both cases, the CCP has gotten very close to or inside
the political core, if you will, of both countries,” Mattis said.
But
its the two different reactions from their governments that warrants
such drastic action by the international intelligence agencies,
believes Mattis.
Australia
commissioned a secret government study that uncovered CCP attempts to
influence all levels of politics, and subsequently proposed a raft of
new legislation targeting espionage, foreign political donations, and
foreign interference.
But
New Zealand, according to Mattis, has not done enough. In particular
he highlighted the case of academic Anne-Marie Brady.
Brady,
who has been researching Beijing’s overseas influence arm United
Front, had her home and office burgled in the last six months.
Laptops, phones, and a flash drive were taken, and days before one of
the break-ins Brady received a warning letter threatening “push
back” against those who oppose Beijing.
“With
respect to the reactions, and although the current prime minister has
said that the attempts to intimidate and to steal materials from
scholar Anne-Marie Brady will be investigated, that’s a far cry
from any sort of productive action,” Mattis said.
He
added: “One of the major fundraisers for [New Zealand Prime
Minister] Jacinda Ardern’s party has United Front links, that you
have to say this is close enough to the central political core of the
New Zealand system.”
Ardern
responded by saying none of the Five Eyes agencies had raised such
concerns with her.
Mattis’
testimony also described how the CCP can wield its influence by
having CCP-backed individuals leading Chinese community groups. In
doing so, politicians who seek their advice are hearing from the CCP
rather than local Chinese communities.
Although
Mattis held up Australia’s proposed legislation as a way of dealing
with Beijing’s interference attempts, he made it clear that the
legislation means little without enforcement.
“Yes,
they are taking these actions, but it’s far from clear whether or
not they’re going to be complete and whether they’re going to
take an effective form in pushing back. “
A reminder - from 2016
NZ open to Chinese investment, John Key tells China's business bigwigs
STACEY KIRK
Prime Minister John Key and billionaire Jack Ma held a Q&A for some of the heaviest business hitters in China.
In
a room representing more than $100 billion worth of Chinese wealth,
Prime Minister John Key has moved to assure China's heaviest hitters
that New Zealand is open for investment.
His
comments were delivered at a Chinese business networking event in
Beijing, alongside Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma, who also announced
the next phase of a major partnership with New Zealand Trade and
Enterprise.
Key
is leading a 40-strong delegate trade mission, focusing on upgrading
New Zealand's free trade agreement with China.
He
and Ma witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding, which
will allow New Zealand small businesses greater access to sell their
products on the Alibaba online retail platform....
On the 5 Eyes - this may be worthwhile listening to
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