SYDNEY - During the Forum of the Chinese People on July 10, former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin spoke for the first time about the specific methods used by the CCP to control overseas Chinese communities.
These communities continue in fear of the CCP though they live in the free world. Chen pointed out that the CCP’s efforts in this regard are consistent with its plans to control Australia, also known as its “great border” strategy.
The CCP Uses Taiwan’s Independence as a Dividing Issue
Chen said that the issue of Taiwan’s independence is the main lever used by the CCP to divide the Chinese community in Australia. It is a highly charged issue, and one that easily stirs up ingrained feelings of nationalism for many Chinese. He cautions the Australian Chinese not to get pulled in by this tactic, not to become emotionally involved with this issue.
The CCP’s General Consulate in Sidney frequently holds activities in Chinese communities on the issue of Taiwan. To encourage more nationalism, each year the consulate invites ethnic Chinese council members from all over Australia to visit China for free; they are treated as VIP’s and lavishly hosted at no expense. They are given opportunities to meet and have photos taken with CCP officials, which can easily be used to their political advantage back in Australia. This type of bribery is a common CCP tactic.
CCP Leaders Require Protection From All Dissent
When Wu Bangguo visited Sidney in May, 2005 the Sidney General Consulate selected 200 ethnic Chinese sympathetic to the party to welcome him at the airport. All of them were required to pass a strict security check as part of anti- assassination precautions. Even though this group was hand picked by the CCP itself, there were still fears around them that an assassin may have been lurking in their midst.
In contrast, when Wu was invited to a banquet put on by the Australian government that took place in a hotel at Lovers’ Cove, the Australian officials insisted that there be no security checks. They stressed that they trusted that their guests were not murderers and that no one should worry about their safety. Wu and his Chinese entourage were very upset by this and demanded tight security checks being imposed. They even threatened not to attend. In the end, the Australian government did not give in, and Wu attended anyway so as not to lose face. This is just to highlight the deep paranoia and insecurity of the CCP.
Visiting CCP officials live in fear that dissenters from Falun Gong or democracy groups will show up where they are to voice their opinions. They are now requiring special assurances from the Australian government that they will not be exposed to any public demonstrations of dissent. Unfortunately, the Australian government has given in to these demands, against its better judgment.
Chen lamented the fact that a country that has generally encouraged public dialogue and felt a responsibility to acknowledge dissenting opinions, is now caving in to the unreasonable and undemocratic demands of a totalitarian government such as the CCP.
Establishing Friendship Organizations with Nationalist Agendas
Chen spoke of how the CCP sets up friendship organizations that are meant, on the surface, to encourage overseas Chinese communities to come together as a larger whole. The actual purpose of these organizations is to promote a nationalist agenda and the CCP ideology - in short they are yet another CCP brainwashing tool. Examples of such organizations include the Australian Chinese Community Association and the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, both of which are active locally in Australia. They are out to eliminate the cultural pluralism that flourishes in Australia’s Chinese communities, and replace it with the CCP monoculture.
Control and Take Over of Media Outlets
Chen expressed that the CCP employs strict media control and censorship not only within China, but also within the Chinese communities scattered throughout the free world. Diplomats are heard making the same speeches in foreign lands, spreading the same CCP lies to the overseas communities.
He said, “In the past month some local Chinese media have not been very sensible in reporting my defection. One of the main reasons is that they are influenced and controlled by the CCP’s General Consulate. Chinese media companies run on a smaller scale and are easily enticed by the CCP’s economical interests.”
Chen highlighted the three main avenues of media control: direct sponsorship, advertisements, and purchase of front-page coverage and broadcast time.
Some Chinese language newspapers publish editorial articles written by CCP members, showcased on special pages set aside for this purpose. This format has been well received by Beijing, and has become a frequently used propaganda tool. The head of the Publicity Department of the CCP Central Committee has visited Australia and been very pleased by the media situation that he observed - that the voice of the CCP is reaching far into the Chinese communities. There is also an element of economic advantage for these CCP compliant media, as they are granted special privileges and access to markets in China.
Chen commented, “I think as a media company, to betray the principle of justice is for sure to betray the readers, to betray the people. I hope certain media companies will discipline themselves, get rid of the CCP’s control and become true media, instead of following the CCP down its path to destruction.”
Cultural Activities and the Arts are Co-opted by the CCP Propaganda Machine
Chinese cultural arts performances are frequent events in Australia, with famed Beijing opera such as The Legend of the White Snake playing at the Sydney Opera House, and this is as it should be. There is an abundance of quality art, informed by the rich Chinese heritage, flowing into Australia, and this is a truly beneficial cultural exchange. Unfortunately, the CCP has taken advantage of this established avenue, and routinely sends propaganda pieces in the guise of Chinese art and theater. To give an example, on October 4, 2004, the General Administration Art Group of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) performed at the Sydney Opera House, in an effort to erase its history of killing, such as its involvement in the June 4th Massacre on Tiananmen Square.
Another point raised by Chen is that cultural exchange should be two-way. When was the last time an Aboriginal didgeridoo ensemble was invited to perform in Beijing?
He remarked, “How many Australian cultural and art groups visited China? The only one I remember was in 2002 when Australia held a week of cultural activities. But every year there are many Chinese cultural groups traveling to Australia to perform.”
People in the entertainment industry are making money off of these pseudo-arts, but Chen rightly pointed out that they should check their consciences and see if they really want to be supporting the evil CCP ideology.
Ethnic Chinese are Tempted into Helping Persecute Dissidents Within Their Communities
Chen told of a writer that he knew of who approached the Chinese Consulate unsolicited, offering to write articles smearing Falun Gong, democratic movements, and other voices of dissent if he would be invited to various activities held at the consulate. The prestige that comes with such an association was enough to convince him to put away his personal morals and professional ethics. It even says that the General Consulate looks down on such a person, but such is the type of action encouraged by the CCP’s foul environment of influence.
Chen reminded all overseas Chinese that they are extremely lucky to possess the freedom that their Mainland brothers and sisters desperately lack. Any righteous overseas Chinese person should feel ashamed to be poisoned by the Party culture for a long term. He hopes that every Chinese should get rid of the control by the CCP and its Party culture, completely shattering the CCP's evil spiritual shackles, and ultimately separating themselves from the CCP.
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