China is not mad in any way over Australia, also they may not need natural gas from Aus anymore. - Australia Derangement Syndrome now spreading rapidly throughout China.

[Disc]

PM announces new restrictions on foreign investment in Australia

https://youtu.be/fVofhw9aI6o (ABC News)

PM and the treasurer both made a point of praising David Irvine, current head of the foreign investment review board and formerly head of ASIO and before that director general of ASIS and was the Australian ambassador to China from 2000 to 2003.

Claims that new policy was developed by Australia for Australia and not at all influenced by trying to maintain "accepted foreign state investor status" with the USA.
No mention of Victoria, Andrews, or the BRI.

Spoiler: Key points

PM ScoMo
Investment in Australia must be on our terms, on our rules and in our interests.
Need to be more careful of foreign investment in sensitive businesses, critical infrastructure, data centers.
Australia has the most liberal set of investment rules in our part of the world.
50 mil for ensuring agencies can enforce compliance in foreign investment rules.
Does not see any reason why these new policies might increase tension with China.
Port of Darwin was not sold with approval or authority of the Commonwealth Government, at the time of sale in 2016 was not required for states/territories to have approval from foreign investment review board or the treasurer to sell assets.
Jobs and growth.
Keep off the grass.

Treasurer
1 in 10 Australian jobs created by foreign investment.
Of the 4 trillion in foreign investment in Straya, more than 20% comes from the USA, more than 10% from each UK and Japan. Oh and a little over 5% from China.
Technology evolving, geo-political climate more complex, world over govts seeing foreign investment being used for strategic objectives, not purely commercial ones.
Most significant reforms to foreign investment act since established in 1975.
Three key areas of change..

• Creating new national security test for foreign investors trying to invest in sensitive areas, telecommunications, critical infrastructure, energy/utilities, defense supply chain, and businesses that collect store and own data. Exact businesses still to be determined.
• Treasurer also has new power where (s)he can "call in" an investment if it creates a risk but is not already covered by policy.
• Treasurer will also have last resort power to vary or impost conditions or as a last resort force divestment "in limited number of exceptional cases".

Intend to pass changes by end of 2020 and implement by Jan 1st 2021.

Seems like how good this will be will depend strongly on the treasurer not fucking it up.

So... what are our odds?

 

[ditto]

Seems like how good this will be will depend strongly on the treasurer not fucking it up.

So... what are our odds?

What are the odds of the right politicians and bureaucrats being offered cushy positions on the board of the China Development Bank?

 

[_benson_]

 

[LegoTugboat]

Yeah, been putting it off, but there's been a couple of bits more of Australia being bastards, according to China.

China's foreign... thing has announced that we're funded by illegal arms dealers, because Australia's basically the villain from Tom Clancy novels.

And Australia's wiretapped the entire Chinese embassy in Canberra and is leaking fake news to the Global Times. We're even wiretapping you right now.

 

[NevskyProspekt]

Well, guys like Julius Malema in South Africa seem more to be China's lackey instead of saying FY to them.

Sierra Leone of all places told China to GTFO when the latter tried to pull them into a debt trap. Somebody give them a medal.

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Sierra Leone of all places told China to GTFO when the latter tried to pull them into a debt trap. Somebody give them a medal.

Let's wish then others African countries will follow Sierra Leone's path.

 

[KingCoelacanth]

Reminds me of a story where student groups in Australian Unis were getting filled with Chinese nationals who were apparently putting out a lot of pro-china propaganda. But it was downplayed due to "muh racism" This seems to be spreading more and more, first with the HK protests then the Wuhan flu, where criticism of China become a taboo due to claims of the criticism being inherently racist.

 

[Homersexual]

 

[theshep]

Chinese embassy accuses Australia of violating international law after Hong Kong visa extensions announced

The Chinese embassy has condemned Australia's decision to extend the visas of some Hong Kongers in response to China's crackdown on personal freedoms, saying it is a "gross interference" in the country's internal affairs.


Australia will offer a path to permanent residency for thousands of Hong Kong citizens, while suspending its extradition agreement with the city in response to China's crackdown on personal freedoms and dissent.

In a statement, China's embassy in Canberra said it "strongly deplores and opposes the groundless accusations and measures announced by the Australian Government".

"Which is a serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations, and a gross interference in China's internal affairs.

"Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs. The Australian side has been clanking that they oppose 'foreign interference'. However, they have blatantly interfered in China's internal affairs by making irresponsible remarks on Hong Kong-related issues.

"Its hypocrisy and double standard is exposed in full."

The embassy said it urged the Federal Government to "stop meddling" in Hong Kong affairs.

The changes announced by the Prime Minister apply to people already in Australia, offering safe haven and a path to remaining in Australia.

Temporary work visa holders and student visa holders currently in Australia will have their visas extended, and will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residency after that period.

Separate efforts will be made to entice businesses looking to move their operations from Hong Kong to set up shop in Australia.

It is understood the visa changes will affect about 10,500 students and 1,500 people on other relevant visas, most of whom are already in Australia.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not detail any plans for a humanitarian intake of Hong Kong residents.

"The most significant impact of the decisions we've made today are for those around 10,000 people who are already in Australia," he said.

"The refugee and humanitarian stream remains available for those seeking to apply through that channel, and that is available to people all around the world."

Extradition agreement suspended
Hong Kong has recently introduced new national security laws which criminalise dissent and opposition to Chinese rule.

The laws have been met with protests and arrests.

Australia is part of a number of countries to have denounced the laws, imposed by the Chinese Government.

Australia is also suspending its extradition agreement with Hong Kong.


Mr Morrison said the agreement was on hold because the new laws represented a "fundamental change in circumstances" that undermined the One Country, Two Systems framework that Hong Kong is governed under.

There are concerns that maintaining an extradition treaty with Hong Kong could lead to people facing charges in China.

Bing Ling, a Professor of Chinese Law at the University of Sydney, said he believed Australia had little choice but to suspend the treaty.

"With any extradition agreement, there needs to be trust and confidence between the two legal systems," he said.

"You want the other country to treat a criminal defendant in a fair way, according to international standards, when you extradite someone to them.

"I think there is this risk of someone being sent to Hong Kong and ending up in mainland China."


The travel advice for Hong Kong has been upgraded and now warns that Australians who visit the city "may be at increased risk of detention on vaguely defined national security grounds".

The change follows the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's decision on Tuesday to warn Australians in China they may be at risk of "arbitrary detention".

Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Labor agreed with the Government's suspension of extradition, and the visa offer, but said it did not go far enough.

"The Government should ensure no Hong Konger is involuntarily deported," Senator Wong said.

"It is not clear from the Government's announcement, the extent to which these arrangements will be more broadly available to the people of Hong Kong.

"Family reunion is not clear — there are still many people who are ineligible for the pathways proposed."

Chinese response not unexpected
The Government's announcement was expected to draw a furious response from Beijing.


The Chinese Government reacted angrily when the United Kingdom announced it would offer many Hong Kong residents a path to citizenship, accusing Britain of harbouring a "colonial mentality" towards the city it once ruled.

Beijing also warned it may not permit Hong Kong residents to leave the city and take up residence in the UK, although it is not clear how this would be enforced.

It has also warned of "consequences" for nations which "interfere in [China's] internal affairs".

Earlier this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its travel advice for mainland China, warning Australians could face "arbitrary detention" by local authorities.

The Chinese Embassy responded with an angry statement labelling the new travel advice "ridiculous" and "misinformation".

Incentives offered to attract businesses
Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said the changes would provide a pathway to permanent residency in Australia for some Hong Kong residents.

"Current and future students from Hong Kong will be eligible for a five-year temporary graduate visa on the successful conclusion of their studies, and that will come with a pathway for permanent residency," he said.

Temporary skilled visa holders currently in Australia will be offered an additional five years in Australia, with a path to citizenship, while future applicants for temporary skilled visas will be given five-year visas if they meet skills shortages.

Applicants from Hong Kong that put their hand up for talent and business innovation programs will be prioritised to come to Australia, and the Government says it will incentivise businesses to move from Hong Kong to Australia.

Mr Tudge said that would come with a "package of visas" to allow staff to relocate to Australia and work towards permanent residency.

"We know that many individuals now might be looking elsewhere, because they do want to be in a freer country, they want to be in a democratic country," Mr Tudge said.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-09/australia-hong-kong-china-extradition-and-visa-issues/12433332

https://archive.md/wip/04RmK

Stay mad, China.

 

[Spoonge]

Chinese embassy accuses Australia of violating international law after Hong Kong visa extensions announced

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-09/australia-hong-kong-china-extradition-and-visa-issues/12433332

https://archive.md/wip/04RmK

Stay mad, China.

It's fascinating how the narrative has shifted. Before the WuFlu we were Xi's cocksleeve. Any criticism of Chinese investment and infiltration was decried as racist and shut down quickly. You couldnt utter a word about them buying up our dairy industry, or our fucking ports up in the NT. You couldnt talk about how they're shutting young Aussies out of owning homes because they come over and pump their money into real estate. You couldnt talk about the numerous connections our politicians had with China and the CCP. Any words against the glorious bugmen were uttered quietly and amongst people you trusted.

And now we've got China trying to destroy us economically and Australia is taking steps to push back. We've had a sudden new announcement of increased defence funding to the tune of 270 billion to try and stonewall Chinese dominance of the region. We've started investigating and purging Chinese bought politicians. We've spat in their eye by taking in Hong Kong citizens and refusing to extradite them. And of course we refused to back down from the inquiry.

What the fuck is going on? I didnt think my country would ever pull its head of its ass in regards to this fucking dictatorship. Will we finally take back our infrastructure and our institutions? Can I finally shoot the loud chink bitch that wont stop screaming in woolies? in minecraft of course. Pls dont hurt me ASIO

 

[Anchors-Away]

What the fuck is going on? I didnt think my country would ever pull its head of its ass in regards to this fucking dictatorship. Will we finally take back our infrastructure and our institutions? Can I finally shoot the loud chink bitch that wont stop screaming in woolies? in minecraft of course. Pls dont hurt me ASIO

Maybe the Five Eyes finally got together with a consistent plan to deal with China

 

[Spoonge]

Maybe the Five Eyes finally got together with a consistent plan to deal with China

Sounds like a fairy tale. A 'consistent plan to deal with China' might as well be the words 'once upon a time'.

 

[theshep]

Maybe the Five Eyes finally got together with a consistent plan to deal with China

There might be something in that thought.

There have been murmurings about TikTok in the US and Canada already. Now it's us. The Indians (while not FVEY) have already banned it.

TikTok, WeChat to face Australian social media security investigation

The Morrison government is set to launch an investigation into social media platforms such as TikTok, as concern grows about whether the Chinese company will be required to share users' information with the Chinese government.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said the Australian government was monitoring TikTok "very closely" and "won't be shy" about taking action against the video sharing app if it is needed.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal the Morrison government is likely to establish an inquiry into social media companies, which would be informed by advice from security agencies.
Government sources said the probe, which will not be a formal public inquiry, will potentially look at the security threats posed by social media companies such as TikTok, as well as platforms used primarily by the Chinese diaspora such as WeChat and Weibo.

The Morrison government has also been talking with its counterparts in the United States on the threats posed by TikTok and other social media companies.
The Trump administration is expected to announce its decision on whether to ban Tiktok and other Chinese social media companies within weeks. The Indian government this month announced a ban on TikTok and other well-known Chinese apps, including messaging platform WeChat, saying they pose a "threat to sovereignty and integrity."
TikTok is the first Chinese tech giant to have a truly international user base.
The company is owned by ByteDance, which runs a separate China-only version called Douyin, that regularly censors content in accordance with regulations enforced by the Chinese Communist Party.
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States is investigating if the millions of videos uploaded to TikTok daily could give the Chinese government access to a vast facial recognition database.

The company's Australian general manager Lee Hunter wrote to every federal MP this week seeking to "correct the record regarding a number of false claims that have been made about TikTok over recent weeks".


"Contrary to some claims, it is critical you understand that we are independent, and not aligned with any government, political party or ideology," he said.
"TikTok is a privately owned company interested in helping our users make and share creative and fun videos."
Along with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, the company has been the focus of scrutiny from the White House as it looks to ramp up economic pressure on China.

A parliamentary inquiry into the risk posed to Australia's democracy by foreign interference through social media companies was established last year. But the government wants to establish its own review to settle on what position it should take on platforms such as TikTok.
The Morrison government is also concerned about social media apps that are used by mainly Chinese-speaking Australians, including WeChat and microblogging site Weibo.
Fergus Ryan, an analyst with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said he was not sure whether an outright ban on companies such as TikTok was necessary, but the Australian government should have a requirement that no user data is sent back to Beijing.
He said TikTok has become a "cultural juggernaut" and had the power to create celebrities, which could be used to influence the outcome of democratic elections.
"I welcome any decision to examine these apps more carefully, because certainly with apps like WeChat there has been enough research done on that particular app to demonstrate pretty much incontrovertibly that censorship takes place on it," Mr Ryan said.

"Newer apps like TikTok, that aren't focused on the Chinese diaspora as its main audience and that use different and new technology to distribute content, are a tougher nut to crack.

"Even with a lot of sustained and focused research of the app, actually pinning down what that algorithm is doing, what types of content it is promoting and demoting is very difficult to pin down."

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tiktok-wechat-to-face-australian-social-media-security-investigation-20200717-p55d3y.html

 

[Anchors-Away]

There might be something in that thought.

There have been murmurings about TikTok in the US and Canada already. Now it's us. The Indians (while not FVEY) have already banned it.

UK have begun to ban Huawei 5G, so I imagine they'll be next on the TikTok train. Especially as they'll likely spin it as tackling hate speech or some bullshit

 

[theshep]

UK have begun to ban Huawei 5G, so I imagine they'll be next on the TikTok train. Especially as they'll likely spin it as tackling hate speech or some bullshit

Yeah, we (I think), were one of the first to ban Huawei in 2018. The UK is just catching up.

 

[Super-Chevy454]

Yeah, we (I think), were one of the first to ban Huawei in 2018. The UK is just catching up.

I wonder who'll be next to ban Huawei?

 

[ditto]

I wonder who'll be next to ban Huawei?

Huawei will disappear and the totally unrelated Iewauh Technologies Co. will suddenly appear.

 

[spiritofamermaid]

We told the Americans to fuck off in the 80's

Please tell me more about this

 

[Iceland Heavy]

Please tell me more about this

I assume he's referring to them announcing New Zealand was a nuke-free zone. So Navy ships carrying nuclear warheads or reactors weren't allowed to dock.

 

[Borax Bozo]

Please tell me more about this

This would be in relation to NZ breaking the ANZUS defence treaty due to their anti-nuke stance. So the treaty effectively became two treaties "A-NZ" and "A-US", no "NZ-US".