Chinese police were allowed into Australia to speak with a woman. They breached protocol and escorted her back to China

Chinese police hunting international corruption targets were allowed into Australia by the federal police and subsequently escorted a woman back to China for trial, in a major breach of Chinese-Australian police protocols.

The revelations, contained in Monday night’s Four Corners program about a former Chinese spy, prompted a sharp rebuke from federal politicians who are concerned the act may have undermined Australia’s national security.

The Chinese police were permitted to enter Australia in 2019 to talk with a 59-year-old Chinese-born Australian resident.

The woman was targeted under a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) anti-corruption drive called Operation Fox Hunt, which relies on police from the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) to make arrests.

Her case is one of 283 cases documented by an international NGO, Safeguard Defenders, in its recent report, Chasing Fox Hunt.

While Fox Hunt is described by the CCP as targeting “economic criminals”, human rights groups have said it is also used to silence dissidents and abduct people around the world.

Hobbes_Dent,

Can’t speak for Australians, but as a Canadian who expects that the same could happen here - why the fuck are our governments so apathetic about this shit?.

Stand up for the people trusting you. Be MAD. Stop doing it if you’re also doing it.

Wanderer,

In the UK there was a peaceful protester and the Chinese dragged him into the embassy grounds and beat him in front of the public. They have diplomatic immunity.

Nothing was done obviously.

No wonder China and Russia shit over us and act like we are weak. We are. We proved it multiple times.

Fuck the West is shadow of what it once was.

ArmokGoB,

I think this is what molotov cocktails were made for.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Might want to look up the etymology. Molotovs tended to be aimed at Western partisans.

jalkasieni,

The name originally comes from Finland and the Winter War, where they were used against soviet tanks.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

As a result, the Finns sarcastically dubbed the Soviet incendiary cluster bombs “Molotov bread baskets”

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov_cocktail

You are confusing the Hungarian Revolt in '56 with the Winter War in '39.

catloaf,

Why don’t you quote that whole paragraph:

The name’s origin came from the propaganda Molotov produced during the Winter War, mainly his declaration on Soviet state radio that incendiary bombing missions over Finland were actually “airborne humanitarian food deliveries” for their “starving” neighbours.[13][10][better source needed] As a result, the Finns sarcastically dubbed the Soviet incendiary cluster bombs “Molotov bread baskets” (Finnish: Molotovin leipäkori) in reference to Molotov’s propaganda broadcasts.[14][10] When the hand-held bottle firebomb was developed to attack and destroy Soviet tanks, the Finns called it the “Molotov cocktail”, as “a drink to go with his food parcels”.[15][16]

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

I gave you the link, my guy. I assumed you knew how to click it.

nomous,

You were wrong and doubled-down. You should read the things you link my guy.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

You were wrong

My guy, its right there in black and white.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

the Chinese dragged him into the embassy grounds and beat him in front of the public

Uh… any link on that? I’m not finding this reference anywhere.

blackn1ght,

www.bbc.com/news/uk-63972640

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

The article isn’t clear as to what precipitated the brawl

en.wikipedia.org/…/Clash_at_the_Consulate_General…

The individual was part of a crowd attempting to harass individuals within the embassy, not someone police snatched off the street at random.

Bob appears to have tried to drag off a member of the consult in the act of tearing down signs, only to be pulled inside himself in a tug of war with the consulate staff.

Nothing about this looks peaceful.

WhatAmLemmy,

Yeah, it’s not like western governments, “intelligence” agencies or police would ever beat protesters, persecute political dissidents, murder civilians, torture suspects in designated black sites, ally with dictatorships who torture and murder journalists with bone saws, overthrow democratically elected governments, or engage in any behavior that is horrifically anti-democratic or anti-human rights.

That time when the west was historically great was a lie. We were only better than fascism or communism, but our ruling class, the politicians they own, and their corporations have always engaged in horrific shit. Ours just hide behind the media and a liability shield of a dozen LLC’s, or do it hidden behind closed doors — unless you’re a palestinian, protester, communist, or a dozen other groups who are okay to oppress publicly at any given time.

Chee_Koala,

Yeah and everyone knows: Whataboutisms are a really great way to argue your point!

WhatAmLemmy,

It would be Whataboutism if I defended the accusations against China or Russia. I explicitly said we were better — just only better than the bottom of the barrel — and the whole point of my comment was to refute the right-wing nationalist fantasy that we were historically “strong”, “great” or “righteous”; a time that never existed in reality.

I suggest you learn what maketh a logical fallacy.

kungen,

Even the article is apathetic… they write “escorted” her back to China, when it’d actually be “kidnapped” or “abducted”…?

Hupf,

I cannot not read this in Cave Johnson’s voice.

AngryCommieKender,

I didn’t read it that way the first time, but yep. J. K. Simmons energy all over that comment.

FiniteBanjo,

Devil’s Advocacy:

The why is really really simple. The actions taken in result have the potential to cause more harm than help. Tariffs don’t work, censureship is useless, and war is… yeah. They can get up on stage and shout about how angry they are but it means fuck all. The important part is how WE deal with it. Legislature starts from the grass roots level, political activism and engagement can help make new laws that expressly do not allow extradition by the CCP and other adversarial nations, or in any way allow an arm of the CCP to search for or request information on any individuals.

Aurenkin,

Ok so now we will not allow Chinese police into Australia right?

insert Anakin and Padme meme

wick,

4 years without a headline. The AFP didn’t even consider this objectionable. The AFP are scum.

GiddyGap,

Why the heck would Australia even allow Chinese police on their soil? Isn’t this usually done by requesting extradition? Makes no sense.

CoffeeJunkie,

Chinese Communist Party’s…anti-corruption drive. Next up, we’ve got prostitutes fucking for virginity. 🤪

randint,
@randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz avatar

Kinda glad where I live there’s absolutely no way our government would allow CCP police to reach me. (unless the CCP police goes undercover and kidnaps me)

index,

Sure about it?

randint, (edited )
@randint@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz avatar

Pretty sure there’s no way my government would allow it. Sure, secretly kidnapping me might not be too difficult, but my government would never officially give permission to the CCP police to have a talk with me (as the Australian govt. did in this article). I live in Taiwan btw.

AeonFelis,

If they talk about the USA - then yes. Not because the government loves its citizens and respects their rights - simply because it hates China.

index,

Still If there’s someone they need in china they would probably trade you over

dumblederp,

USA doesn’t pay enough attention. A few CCP spies with a van and a blackjack could grab someone in USA 100% and you’re deluded if you think otherwise.

nomous,

Depends, are we talking about Chinese nationals or immigrants? They a naturalized citizen? I remember some reports about Chinese people being harassed by Chinese police here in the U.S. just last year.

Mango,

Sounds to me like China is asking for a bomb. Australia should give them one. You don’t come steal my cat after asking for pets unless you want me to show up at your door and shoot you in the face.

irreticent,
@irreticent@lemmy.world avatar

!iAmVeryBadass

Mango,

Would you do less for your cat?

Treczoks,

There must have been some kind of cooperation, Australia has custom offices and border controls at airports and harbours. They won’t let her out without looking at her passport, etc.

x0chi,

Read the news better…

grue,

Maybe they shoved her in a diplomatic pouch.

mycathas9lives,

I am not supplies

Erdgeist,

Surprised

wick,

You callin’ him a liar? >_>

Red_October,

“Escort back to China” sure is a weird way of saying they kidnapped her.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Traditionally, countries will have extradition agreements that facilitate arrest of criminals in flight.

Thanks to break down in relations between China and Western states, it has become increasingly common for Chinese embezzlers and con-artists to flee abroad with cash assets in hopes of evading arrest.

Of course, this works both ways with Australian felony suspects hiding in China to the same effect.

In 2017, the Turnbull government abruptly withdrew from parliament a proposed Chinese extradition treaty following significant backbench discontent.

Since then, the Australian government has resorted to various agreements with MPS and other Chinese security agencies as a means of cooperating with China on criminal matters.

So this becomes an end run for both countries to seek “voluntary” extradition, primarily by threatening potential accomplices and family property in the original country.

And it exists for good reason. You generally don’t want your country to become a haven for fraudsters because they’ll keep committing fraud in their new country.

Yvette Wang, accused of being an accomplice of exiled and indicted Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, pleaded guilty in New York last week to defrauding many investors out of over $1 billion in “a complex scheme,” prosecutors said.

TokenBoomer,

Thanks. That’s what I needed to know.

zephyreks,

Fraud in China has far worse consequences than fraud in Australia. Even if I were to be arrested, I’d prefer it to happen in Australia where I can get off with a slap on the wrist.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Even if I were to be arrested, I’d prefer it to happen in Australia

nit.com.au/…/roebourne-regional-prison-cells-stil…

On Monday, as the temperature soared to 43 C in Roebourne, the Service revealed the “distressing outcome” is that prisoners are still living in cells without air-conditioning, in “conditions that could prove fatal from heat stress or heat stroke”.

Enjoy yourself, I guess.

barsquid,

How much you want to bet that jail has even a single white collar criminal in it exposed to 43 C heat?

Aradina,

Fraudsters aren’t being shipped to a regional prison in one of the most remote areas of the country lol

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

True. White collar crimes getting the white glove treatment isn’t unusual in the West, no matter how many lives are ruined.

TachyonTele,

They’re not saying they want to go to prison in Australia. They’re saying it would obviously be better than going to prison in freaking China.

I feel like you’re a Chinese prison salesman or something.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

They’re not saying they want to go to prison in Australia.

No, they’re just hanging their hat on “China Always Worse”.

you’re a Chinese prison salesman

That’s a sane and logical conclusion

TachyonTele,

they’re just hanging their hat on “China Always Worse”.

Compared to Australia? Yes, going to prison in China would be worse.

nomous, (edited )

I’ll take 43C/109F to a forced labor internment camp but you do you.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

I’ll take 43C/109F

I would pass on it.

nomous,

Forced labor in 49C it is then.

UnderpantsWeevil, (edited )
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Oasis agriculture in the Tarim Basin occupies a large part of the population

In the Tarim Basin, July temperatures average about 80 °F (27 °C)

…

After the Cultural Revolution, political and economic policies were moderated, leading to widespread improvement in the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists and to relative stability and economic growth in the region. This was accompanied—especially from the late 1990s—by increased economic investment in Xinjiang, as well as by an influx of Han from other parts of China.

Sounds awful. Enjoy your Australian prison.

nomous, (edited )

And you enjoy your Chinese internment camp, maybe your organs will fetch a nice price for the apparatchik.

Or maybe westerners will look and point drunkenly at your plasticized, dissected body for entertainment.

UnderpantsWeevil, (edited )
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Premier Exhibitions Inc is an Atlanta, Georgia-based company that organizes traveling exhibitions.

The Chinese of Atlanta Georgia?

nomous,

The one I saw was in Las Vegas but every single body was Chinese.

The reality is I’d rather sit in a Aussie prison in 46/115 heat than in a Chinese prison at a nice balmy 25/77.

Do you think the Chinese prison system is a better place than the Australian prison system?

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

I’d rather sit in a Aussie prison in 46/115 heat than in a Chinese prison at a nice balmy 25/77.

I’m sorry if Chinese people make you feel so uncomfortable that you’d rather broil than be near them

nomous, (edited )

I have no issue with Asian people. It’s the prison system that’s the issue, but you know that and just want to cry racist because claiming the Chinese prison system is preferable is laughable at best, nice try tankie.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

It’s the prison system that’s the issue

The Chinese prison system. Whereas the Australian prison system that kills people with heat stroke isn’t a problem, because…

the Chinese prison system is preferable is laughable

Of course. Its doing all the progressive-y policies that big liberal states like California rolled back under the Reagan Era. Rehabilitation, job training, quality health care, and public reintegration are all policies the US system dismantled a generation ago, because it was seen as “Hugs for Thugs” and “Soft on Crime”.

nomous, (edited )

You’re going to believe whatever you do tankie, the rest of us know reality.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

believe whatever you do

It helps to base beliefs on sound data and observational evidence.

the rest of us know reality

Shouting “tankie” at your computer monitor is not a sign of strong reality-based reasoning.

nomous, (edited )

I’m the only one that’s posted any links to any data or “observational evidence” (tips fedora lol neckbeard). All you’ve done is vaguely hint at Chinese prisons being preferable to Aussie ones.

I’ve never really gotten to see one of you in the wild.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

I’m the only one that’s posted any links to any data

Ah, so you’re delusional. Cool.

nomous,

Fascinating.

Ever visted?

TheEighthDoctor,

They do it because they can and there are no consequences, it’s not the wolf’s fault for eating the sheep, its the shepherd who left the door open.

Decoy321,

Nah it’s still the wolf’s fault, even when the shepherd is terrible. Take the wolf out of the equation, and the sheep live regardless of the shepherd’s capabilities.

AppleTea,

Deer populations have doubled

AppleTea,

Rabbit populations have octupled

AppleTea,

Local flora has decreased

AppleTea,

Desertification has increased

Decoy321,

Fun hyperbole, but this all assumes wolves are the only predators.

AppleTea,

And your metaphor was a fun oversimplification.

GreatAlbatross,
@GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk avatar

I can’t see how anyone involved with allowing this isn’t complicit.
What possible reason did the police of a foreign nation need to be physically there for, other than physically removing someone?

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

Ms Wang’s whereabouts are unknown. She may still be in China or she may have faced trial and since returned to Australia, as have some of the 16 Australian-based Fox Hunt targets who returned to China since 2014 to face trials there.

It looks like it’s been catch-and-release once the Chinese embezzler returns enough stolen money.

As criminal prosection goes, that’s incredibly cushy. Far nicer than what a drug importer would expect.

And it appears to be reciprocal, as Australians are known to flee to China to evade arrest as well.

sheogorath,

But isn’t punishment for embezzlement in China death? Ohh I just did a cursory search and it’s only for serious cases.

UnderpantsWeevil,
@UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world avatar

theguardian.com/…/china-sentences-top-banker-to-d…

Lai Xiaomin, previously chairman of one of China’s “big four” state-controlled asset management firms, China Huarong Asset Management Co, had pleaded guilty to the dozens of charges. He had been accused of soliciting almost 1.79bn yuan ($276.7m) in bribes over 10 years, a period when he was also acting as a regulator.

A high ranking state official who extorted over a quarter billion dollars got the death penalty.

The death sentence for Lai, in one of China’s biggest financial crime cases, was handed down without a two-year reprieve – a commonly added caveat that allows death sentences to be commuted to 25 years, or life in prison after two years.

CosmoNova,

I think this is what the surprised Pikachu meme was created for.

Nurse_Robot,

China being China, this shit has been going on for decades

stevedidwhat_infosec, (edited )

News flash they do this shit everywhere.

Because the world runs on money.

China has lots of moneys.

Say what you will about conspiracy nuts, but the idea of a world government is very very real and has been for a long time. It’s always been about the money.

Edit: Yall can downvote brigade me until the cows come home and you’re blue in the face (not to mention multi-account abuse for downvoting being arguably worse on a fedinet instance) - the fact is, the chinese have mini-govt buildings setup all around the world. This case isn’t the first, nor will it be the last. Mald harder.

quindraco,

Woa, buddy.

Among the myriad ways to tell that there is no world government… if there was a single world government, money would be irrelevant to situations like this - there would be no issue to smooth over because no-one’s sovereignty would have been violated.

stevedidwhat_infosec,

Explain why you think my theory of the world running on money is far from the truth.

Nurse_Robot,

It’s far from the truth to assume there’s one cohesive government entity that collaborates and communicates well enough to do something like this, and to assume not a single person associated has decided to be a whistle blower.

Edit: a word

stevedidwhat_infosec,

Not the same commenter but still, nevertheless, interested in the convo ofc

It may not be an explicit government, but that’s why I specifically said in my retort “the world runs on money”.

Nurse_Robot,

Are you speaking about yourself? Because you absolutely are the same commenter.

dmention7,

Lmao

rockSlayer,

They forgot to switch to their alt lmao

stevedidwhat_infosec,

… so either you’re on alts or have such a lack of self awareness that you don’t even recognize what you did.

Either way I think we’re done here lol

Nurse_Robot,

Again, are you speaking about yourself? You’re the original commenter, not me.

RogueBanana,

They are talking about you. Their first reply was to someone else but the second was for you.

Nurse_Robot,

That was a very unconventional way of phrasing that.

TrickDacy, (edited )

And yet extremely easy to understand especially when you’re the one who butted in randomly

stephen01king,

Is joining a comment section considered butting in randomly? What is the point of Lemmy if joining a comment thread is viewed negatively?

TrickDacy,

Doing this is only negative if you’re a jerk about it, which they were

stephen01king,

In what way were they being a jerk about it? I read his initial comment as being pretty neutral.

TrickDacy,

It’s not really worth it for me to go back and scour the thread but they definitely came off to me as trolling by repeatedly stating “you’re the same commenter tho!” Even though that made no sense in context

stephen01king,

It made complete sense, since I also understood the other guy’s comment as saying he is not the same commenter due to his phrasing. And the NurseRobot guy only said it twice, the 2nd time due to the other guy refusing to elaborate his confusing phrasing and accusing others of using alts for some reason. Can you explain how repeating a statement one time due to confusion counts as trolling?

TrickDacy,

this is pointless

stephen01king,

And yet, it’s somehow not pointless for you to accuse someone else of trolling and being a jerk without being able to point out any specific event that actually happened?

TrickDacy,

This is a stupid and pointless conversation that wouldn’t possibly have any value whatsoever. Bye.

catloaf,

Then why even engage in the first place?

TrickDacy,

Sure if I judge someone I should totally prepared to argue for 45 minutes with some idiot about that judgment/s

catloaf,

First time on the Internet, then?

TrickDacy,

First time being told petty bullshit isn’t worth it, then?

stephen01king, (edited )

First time spouting bullshit then calling the conversation you started worthless, then? Edit: spelling

TrickDacy,

Cry about it

stephen01king,

Why would I? I’m not the one continuously engaging in a conversation I declared worthless a few replies ago. Why don’t you man up and stop trying to get the last word in and just disengage.

catloaf,

Nah. I’m just surprised that you’re still engaging. It’s not good for your health, dude. When I find myself arguing with idiots, I put down my phone and go do something else. I find it’s much better.

unreasonabro,

the level of reading comprehension, the number of assumptions kids make these days - its fucking horrifying, innit

stevedidwhat_infosec,

Not at all, some concepts are harder for some. Some grow up in environments that make learning ugly, alienating, etc. I do want to ask - would you catch flies better with vinegar or with honey? Or are you more interested in squashing?

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

the idea of a world government is very very real and has been for a long time

Yes, it’s called Star Trek and many of us want a future like that.

stevedidwhat_infosec,

Now that I can get behind

catloaf,

Not as many know it was only achieved through nuclear holocaust.

unreasonabro,

why is everyone so retarded about this? there are ACTUAL ATTEMPTS AT WORLD GOVERNMENT - the UN for example - and there are actual think tanks publishing actual documents with this as the goal, publicly available, which are funded by government, yet people just start screeching whenever it gets brought up. You guys do realize it’s possible to actually know stuff, right? fuck.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • world@lemmy.world
  • kavyap
  • thenastyranch
  • osvaldo12
  • GTA5RPClips
  • khanakhh
  • DreamBathrooms
  • InstantRegret
  • magazineikmin
  • Youngstown
  • everett
  • cubers
  • slotface
  • rosin
  • mdbf
  • megavids
  • ethstaker
  • cisconetworking
  • Durango
  • ngwrru68w68
  • modclub
  • tester
  • tacticalgear
  • provamag3
  • anitta
  • normalnudes
  • Leos
  • JUstTest
  • lostlight
  • All magazines
    •