社會觀察 . 獨立評論 . 多元觀點 . 公共書寫 . 世代翻轉

  • Home
  • English
  • 評論
  • 民意
  • 時事
  • 生活
  • 國際
  • 歷史
  • 世代
  • 轉載
  • 投稿須知

The Mask Is Finally Coming Off: The Ugly Truth of China 

  • English Article
  • 國際

As people in the Australian intelligence community (and many citizens) are starting to wonder: What exactly is the price of a nation’s sovereignty? It’s a question all citizens of the free world should be asking.

The unrest in Hong Kong has been getting a lot of attention recently – and for good reason – but it’s just one example of China’s inflexible and anti-democratic approach to world affairs. It seems like it would be a relatively no-brainer for Carrie Lam’s government to offer some – any –  kind of concession to end months and months of protests in Hong Kong (not to mention the effect the protests had on recent elections, where Lam’s party lost big) and all the violence and police controversies they entail, but – no doubt under Beijing’s guidance – she refuses to give an inch. Not only is this stance somewhat irrational, but it aptly represents the CCP’s attitude towards just about every issue on Earth – “My way or the highway” – no matter what the vast majority of people think. And as folks from all quarters of the globe are slowly waking up to realize, China’s “way” is not a very pleasant one, given that its main objectives are to maximize and consolidate its power and wealth by any means necessary. Notice, I didn’t say by any legitimate means necessary, and certainly not by any ethical means necessary (although that could probably be said about most world powers).

Australia recognizes the threats from China. Image source: Reuters
Australia recognizes the threats from China. Image source: Reuters

There is an abiding principle here that most people not exposed to these kinds of autocratic regimes may fail to grasp (and it could be applied to any dictatorial-type government, including in places like Cuba, Venezuela, etc.), which is that what these governments say versus what they do are two vastly different (and sometimes diametrically opposed) things. Granted, democratic governments also spin facts and figures to their advantage, but the difference here is that China (or North Korea, or whatever) spews forth outright lies on the world stage – and by that I mean statements that have nary a grain of truth – to create the image (and it’s never anything more than that) that they operate in rational, accountable, rule-of-law sort of manner. However, because no one in their own land is able to call them out for their mistruths (without ending up in jail, that is), if foreign observers aren’t careful and take their words at face-value (as they’re no doubt accustomed to with more freely elected governments), they’ll be taken for a ride, hook, line and sinker, without necessarily realizing they’ve been duped (check out Sean Penn’s attitude towards Hugo Chavez, for example).

The only problem these propaganda-machine governments encounter (thankfully), is the fact that actions do actually speak louder than words. So no matter what they say, and how well they deceive the sometimes-gullible public, they can never avoid the bald-faced truth of what they’ve been doing. The challenge, therefore, for those on the outside of these nearly impenetrable block-box regimes, is to penetrate the subterfuge of what’s they’re saying (lying about) to arrive at the reality of what’s happening. And a good illustration of this phenomenon is China’s recent underhanded activities in Australia.

One case involves an Australian businessman, Nick Zhao, who told intelligence agents there he’d been recruited to win a seat in parliament as a Chinese agent, claiming his election campaign would be financed by another local businessman with ties to the CCP. The end of this twisted tale? Mr. Zhao was found dead inside a hotel room, something the local authorities are still investigating.

Another case is that of Australian asylum seeker Wang Liqiang, who said he’d previously acted as an undercover Chinese operative, assisting a businessman in Hong Kong to run clandestine spying and disinformation operations in Hong Kong and Taiwan aimed at undermining democracy in those places. Wang also dished on details of the now-infamous kidnapping of anti-Chinese book publishers in Hong Kong, spying on pro-democracy university students in that city, and stealing US military technology. (Wang came to Australia for asylum because his wife and child currently live there).

There’s also the peculiar case of Gladys Liu, a newly elected member of Australia’s Parliament, who gave mixed signals about her allegiance when questioned on such topics as China’s aggressive actions in the South China Sea and the Hong Kong protests, almost as if she were worried about offending Beijing (and this an elected member of Australia’s government!).

What more, pro-democracy protests at Australian universities by Hong Kong students have been routinely interrupted – sometimes with violence – by mainland Chinese students, while multiple protestors say they’ve been followed or had their picture taken by people possibly associated with Australia’s Chinese consulate. In fact, even an Australian journalist, John Garnaut, who once wrote a classified report on Chinese interference in the country, has reported being trailed by potential Chinese agents – including when he was out and about with his family.

Of course, as is commonplace with these sorts of regimes – as noted above – their primary ‘strategy’ when being accused of blatantly illegal activities is to strenuously deny that they even occurred, essentially pulling the wool over the eyes of the entire world. Which exactly is why China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman in Australia has labeled the above accusations “hysteria,” and said “stories like ‘Chinese espionage’ or ‘China’s infiltration in Australia,’ with however bizarre plots and eye-catching details, are nothing but lies.” And if that’s not a case of the pot calling the kettle black, I don’t know what is! Or perhaps they’ve simply taken a page out of Hilter’s playbook, as he once famously stated that the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it as they can’t imagine anyone having “the impudence to distort the truth so infamously” ….

One former Australian intelligence official has labeled China’s espionage efforts in the country “insidious,” and I couldn’t come up with a better word to describe them myself. I mean, these cases are reminiscent of something straight out of 1984 – an autocratic government openly (and sloppily) spying on dissenters of its agenda, while at the same time trying to plant agents at the highest level of government!? How can this situation possibly be tolerated by the Australian authorities?

The reason, sadly, is that they (or at least, some high-profile companies associated with the Aussie government) have been getting filthy rich through trade with China, making them less willing to crack down on the often disturbing behavior of China’s state-sponsored actors. But as people in the Australian intelligence community (and many citizens) are starting to wonder: What exactly is the price of a nation’s sovereignty? It’s a question all citizens of the free world should be asking.

Author / Javier Smith

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

Related

Australia China HongKong
2019-12-21 Javier Smith

Post navigation

執行「反斬首任務」不分黨派 → ← 挺民主的反射動作

Related Posts

川普下令轟炸伊朗會引發第三次波灣戰爭嗎?

持續多日的以色列―伊朗戰爭在日前迎來新的轉折,原本對武力介入猶豫不決的美國總統川普,出乎意料的下達轟炸伊朗的命令,於21日出動多架B-2轟炸機空襲伊朗的福爾多、納坦茲與伊斯法罕(Isfahan)等核子設施,伊朗聲稱在美軍空襲前已轉移濃縮鈾等核物質,並揚言要報復,這讓外界擔心這場以色列和伊朗之間的衝突是否將升級為更大規模的區域性戰爭,也就是第三次波灣戰爭。 盡管川普總統下令出動B-2轟炸機空襲伊朗核子設施,但是並不代表他已決定對伊朗全面開戰,他也聲明不會出動地面部隊,同時催促伊朗盡快表明放棄研發核武,這讓人想起1988年4月雷根總統為反制伊朗在兩伊戰爭期間不斷襲擊波斯灣海域的油輪並挑釁美國軍艦,下令美國海軍摧毀兩座伊朗的鑽油平台,並且擊沉、重創六艘伊朗海軍艦艇的往事,這場軍事行動是有限度的,作為恫嚇伊朗不要再繼續攻擊油輪和美國軍艦,同樣的,川普總統也打算透過有限度的軍事行動對伊朗施壓,換取伊朗在核武問題的徹底讓步,然而伊朗會因此就範嗎?考量到伊朗伊斯蘭政權最高領袖哈米尼的強硬態度仍未軟化,伊朗採取武力報復是可以想見的發展。 值得警惕的是,伊朗後續採取什麼樣的回應動作是影響衝突是否會持續擴大的關鍵。 首先是伊朗會不會重施兩伊戰爭以飛彈襲擊波斯灣海域油輪、美國軍艦的故技,伊朗的飛彈庫存雖然大量消耗,但是還有數量龐大的自殺無人機可以發動攻擊,倘若發動類似攻擊,是否重演1988年美伊海戰值得觀察。 其二是伊朗除了加強攻擊以色列之外,會不會對鄰近的親美國家如沙烏地阿拉伯、阿拉伯聯合大公國等進行挑釁,同時對美國在這些國家的軍事基地、外交機構發動飛彈或無人機攻擊?這些動作是否會讓美國和沙烏地阿拉伯、阿拉伯聯合大公國等國共同武力反擊,讓衝突範圍擴大? 其三是作為伊朗伊斯蘭政權禁衛軍的革命衛隊,在中東乃至於國際仍擁有龐大的恐怖活動網絡及恐怖組織盟友,可以策動其網絡針對美國和以色列在國際的官方機構、海外僑民進行恐怖攻擊,這些恐攻會不會激怒美國加強攻擊伊朗? 前述的情境都可能刺激衝突進一步升高,甚至升級為如同1991年和2003年兩次波斯灣戰爭般的區域性戰爭。美國和伊朗是否會走向全面衝突,取決於伊朗伊斯蘭政權是否選擇擴大衝突、川普政府和以色列的戰略思考以及國際社會的外交斡旋,未來數個星期的戰局和外交交涉將會決定這場衝突的走向。 作者:洄瀾客

伊朗對美國國內的報復性「恐攻 」

美國在奇襲伊朗核武基地後,再三警告伊朗不得對美國的海外軍事基地和官方設施,進行報復性攻擊。 如果伊朗夠聰明的話,他們會陰謀在美國國內進行「恐攻」,要找幾位同情伊朗的「聖戰」烈士,駕著皮卡,衝撞人羣,傷亡屬於「治安」級,但是宣傳效果,會非常驚人!何況美國會有証據是伊朗政府主使的嗎 ? 甚至他們會慫恿「烈士」攻擊猶太人,你知道嗎?紐約市 1/3 人口是猶裔的,找尋大小目標很容易,恐攻後號稱是為巴勒斯坦人討公道,不是伊朗!你們在伊朗暗藏「默沙德」,我們不能在美國國內,發展些「聖戰組織」? 報復性「恐攻」會很快發生,這比媒體所稱伊朗會封鎖「荷姆茲海峽」的可能性大很多,因為中國所需要的 50% 海外進口石油要經此海峽,伊朗封鎖它不就是等於給「準同盟國」難題 !—— 伊朗會騷擾,封鎖未必 ! 那麼伊朗在中東的「協力者」,黎巴嫩、敍利亞、加薩走廊的哈瑪斯,都已經自身難保,唯一剩下來會有點作為的是會騷擾紅海航運的葉門。 所以,伊朗若要「報復」真要點想像力。俄國和中國等「準同盟國」,口惠而無實至。鼓動美國大學親巴勒斯坦的外籍學生以「反戰」為名抗議( 現在誰敢 ?);要民主黨左翼在國會伸出援手? 伊朗神權政府現在要努力的不是報復,或是不報復的問題,而是美國軍事介入,中東政治生態幡然隨之改變,—— 伊朗政權的權威和對內控制力是不是已經受很大的損傷 ?伊朗人民「政權更替」的雄心,會不會野火燒不畫,春風吹又生 ! 作者: 戴震

陳玉珍爭議言論,聯想起曹聚仁穿針引線的「六個條件說」

金門縣選區立委陳玉珍,在網路節目《鄉民大學問》中,被問及倘若中國解放軍選擇攻擊金門或發出投降邀請時,陳玉珍表達願意與中國進行談判的立場,此番言論在網路輿論炸鍋,該言論恐涉及違反《兩岸人民關係條例》,該條例規定地方政府無權單獨與中國進行政治協議,這也觸及到國內法律的界限,此一事件再次讓國民黨內部的親共、反共立場之間的爭議浮出水面,不僅恐重創國民黨形象,但顯然國民黨因罷免連署涉偽造文書一事已自顧不暇。 陳玉珍立委後來跳出來表示:若自己是金門縣長,會直接與中國對話,詢問北京當局的意圖,以及金門若被占領後,是否會直接對台灣本島發起攻擊。陳玉珍強調,金門的生存問題在戰爭中至關重要,並認為保護百姓的安全比法律問題更為重要。她提出的談判建議,雖然表面上是基於保護金門人民的安全,但在兩岸政治環境中,這樣的言論可能被解讀為對中國的妥協,甚至被指為親中投降立場,並顯示出對台灣法律的輕視,甚至指責陳玉珍的言論可能會被視為內亂罪。 此事件讓筆者想起在上世紀50年代,國共內戰因韓戰之後確定以臺灣海峽為界,但仍有所謂的「兩岸調人」在海峽兩岸間穿針引線,北京當局不斷地向蔣介石政權拋出橄欖枝,讓臺、澎、金、馬地區回歸到「一個中國」之下。最著名的兩岸調人為久居香港的黨國大老-曹聚仁,被視為兩岸政治作為非正式的傳話者,並在國共兩黨之間傳遞訊息並進行聯繫,中國共產黨開出讓蔣介石頗為心動的「六個條件說」: l   首先,蔣介石偕同舊部回到大陸,可定居在浙江以外的任何省區,仍任國民黨總裁。北京當局甚至建議撥出江西廬山,為蔣介石居住與辦公的封地。 l   第二,由蔣經國任台灣省省長。台灣除交出外交與軍事外,北京當局只堅持農業方面耕者有其田,其餘內政事項完全台灣省政府全權處理。 l   第三,台灣當局不得接受任何軍事與經濟援助,若遇到財政上困難,由北京比照美國支援數額照撥補助。 l   第四,台灣的海、空軍並人北京當局控制,陸軍縮編為四個師,其中一個師駐在廈門、金門地區,三個師駐在台灣。 l   第五,廈門與金門合併為一個自由市,作為兩岸間的緩沖與聯絡地區。該市市長由駐軍師長兼任。此師長由臺北徵求北京同意後任命。 l   第六,台灣現任文武百官的官階、待遇照舊不變。人民生活保証只可提高,不可降低。 依據史學家找出的近代史料,曹聚仁確實在不斷地穿針引線之下,談成所謂的「六個條件」,只要兩岸統一,周恩來甚至說出可以讓蔣介石擔任國務院總理以上的角色。依據稗官野史的說法,蔣介石對六個條件還頗為心動,但曹聚仁晉見蔣介石時,不斷地說北京市在共產黨當局的治理下如何井井有條,讓蔣介石心生不滿,隨後在50年代末期中國內部發生土改、鎮反、三反五反到三大改造,又隨即發生反右、大躍進、四清到文化大革命等政治事件,「六個條件說」在海峽兩岸分裂的歷史長河中只是驚鴻一撇,在兩蔣統治臺灣的威權時代完全無落實的可能。 然而,近日發生陳玉珍爆出言論爭議,與前總統馬應九在廈門的海峽論壇高喊「「中國五千年歷史,合久必分,分久必合」」等衷心思想,讓國民黨又陷入「賣台行徑」而不自知。事實上,當年曹聚仁居中協調的「六個條件說」雖然在兩蔣時代無實踐可能,但上述條件在當今國民黨部分親中人士來說,這是非常好的條件,讓國共聯手壓制台獨,打著和統或合統的旗號,甚至想努力地分一杯羹,等於是落入中共提出「一國兩制,臺灣方案」的框架,中國國民黨的賣台基因又蠢蠢欲動,臺灣人民不可不慎! 作者:林真心

借鏡以伊衝突 ,台應以伊朗為鑑

以色列日前大規模空襲伊朗核子與軍事設施,並精準「斬首」伊方多名軍方高層與核子科學家,引發舉世矚目。         以伊衝突看似是發生在遙遠的中東,和台灣關係不大,然而中國極可能仿效以色列,對台灣採取斬首及突襲行動,台灣政府應妥慎防範,茲建議如下:         一、強化反滲透工作;以色列能成功「精準斬首」的關鍵因素,是其對伊朗的滲透無孔不入,已達到完全掌握伊方重臣要員行蹤的地步。而台灣受中國滲透的程度亦甚深,根據國安局的報告,2024年台灣因共諜案起訴人數共64人,是2021年的3倍之多,近來就連總統府及外交部機要與執政黨黨工都驚爆涉入共諜案,突顯台灣政府的反滲透工作亟待強化,應儘速擴大情資蒐研與偵處量能,機先防杜刺探、竊密等滲透行動。         二、完善突襲應處機制:軍政單位亟須完善突襲應處機制,包含應建構「去中心化指揮管制」的指揮體系,以及高階將領與重要官員遇突襲時的疏散掩護措施,避免發生伊朗軍事指揮鏈一遇襲即被癱瘓之困境,而能於遇襲的第一時間有效反擊和調度兵力,抵禦來敵後續侵擾。         綜上,唯有完備反滲透與突襲應處的機制,才能確保伊朗悲慘的今天,不會成為台灣的明天,有效維護台灣主權與國家安全。 作者:王昱培

Recent Posts

川普下令轟炸伊朗會引發第三次波灣戰爭嗎?

川普下令轟炸伊朗會引發第三次波灣戰爭嗎?

持續多日的以色列―伊朗戰爭在日前迎來新的轉折,原本對武力介入猶豫不決的美國總統川普,出乎意料的下達轟炸伊朗的命令,於21日出動多架B-2轟炸機空襲伊朗的福爾多、納坦茲與伊斯法罕(Isfahan)等核子設施,伊朗聲稱在美軍空襲前已轉移濃縮鈾等核物質,並揚言要報復,這讓外界擔心這場以色列和伊朗之間的衝突是否將升級為更大規模的區域性戰爭,也就是第三次波灣戰爭。 [...]

More Info
F-16戰機越洋返台其來有自

F-16戰機越洋返台其來有自

F-16戰機是我國空軍的主力機種,美方最早於1992年正式批准出售150架F-16A/B BLOCK 20給我國,並於1997年開始交機。當年交機的方式分為海運與從美國飛抵台灣,由於台灣和美國相隔超過一萬公里,飛行過程需經過數次空中加油、基地停靠才能完成整個飛行任務。 [...]

More Info
伊朗對美國國內的報復性「恐攻 」

伊朗對美國國內的報復性「恐攻 」

美國在奇襲伊朗核武基地後,再三警告伊朗不得對美國的海外軍事基地和官方設施,進行報復性攻擊。 如果伊朗夠聰明的話,他們會陰謀在美國國內進行「恐攻」,要找幾位同情伊朗的「聖戰」烈士,駕著皮卡,衝撞人羣,傷亡屬於「治安」級,但是宣傳效果,會非常驚人!何況美國會有証據是伊朗政府主使的嗎 ? 甚至他們會慫恿「烈士」攻擊猶太人,你知道嗎?紐約市 1/3 [...]

More Info
曾是台獨份子卻跑去舔共 館長根本邏輯錯亂

曾是台獨份子卻跑去舔共 館長根本邏輯錯亂

日前高調赴中國,自稱和平大使的網紅館長,中國經過一連串的參訪、作秀,以及被中國人洗臉之後,回到台灣,被媒體訪問關於最近的大罷免,他憤怒表示:「民進黨所作所為都是大罷免。」他表示,「自己以前是個堅定的台獨份子啊,民進黨9年,也不改國號也不改憲法。」,「氣死我了,我只能當中華民國,我現在只能當中國人啊。」 [...]

More Info

搜尋

精選文章

川習會的中美矛盾是戰略,不是貿易!

2017-04-08 韓非

八仙樂園爆炸案:缺乏常識造成的災難

2015-06-28 異想

彰化縣民輪替後的哀與愁

2016-03-06 許家瑋

新文明病:儲物症(Hoarding disorder)似正在增加

2015-04-13 楊庸一

訂閱本站

輸入你的電子郵件訂閱新文章並接收新通知。

Powered by WordPress | theme Dream Way
Powered by WordPress | theme Dream Way