Western Infiltration

July 6, 2018 Opinion , OPINION/NEWS

Reuters photo

By

Ricardo Swire

There is international internal security concern about covert infiltration of planted pro-Chinese officials in New Zealand, Australian and other Western governments. On September 13, 2017 an intelligence report was released that identified the Chinese national, a Member of Parliament (MP) in New Zealand’s ruling National Party, as an infiltrator. The former Chinese Army military intelligence services operative, also a member of China’s Communist Party (CCP), failed to disclose such affiliations on his New Zealand citizenship application.

The Chinese-New Zealander was previously an instructor at the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Engineering College and Luoyang Language Institute, a satellite of China’s Ministry of State Security. International patterns show how most former spies transfer to senior private corporations, specializing in business intelligence. A subtle office used by mega companies to steal trade secrets. Counteractively businesses have implemented security programs designed to identify insider threats and protect intellectual property. Cyber-tools are additional security alternatives.

Traditional surveillance tradecraft is an important industrial espionage skill. Two favourite tactics are cyber-intrusion and human intelligence techniques. The current federal case in Wisconsin, USA serves as a model scenario. American Superconductor Corp. (AMSC), an energy technology business in Devens Massachusetts, was robbed of US$800 million worth of contracts. A rogue company engineer illegally sold AMSC’s wind turbine source-code to Sinovel Wind Group Company, China’s largest wind turbine manufacturer based in Beijing. After receipt of the source code Sinovel cancelled its official supply arrangement with AMSC.

Down under in Australia the CCP’s main consideration is energy. Australia is key to China’s economic expansion and qualifies as a stable supply base. In 2015 the Chinese Landbridge Group billionaire owner paid AU$506 million for a privileged Port of Darwin ninety-nine year lease. Australia’s federal government and Department of Defence consented to the Chinese deal without contest. Infiltration can be additionally found in the AU$880,000 annual salary commanded by Australia’s former Trade Minister, in his new position as Landbridge Group’s financial consultant.

Reports informed China has approximately five hundred professional spies in Australia. There are seven hundred part-time CCP agents or temporary informers scattered across various organizations, industries and Australian government departments. Chinese Government operatives have infiltrated Australia’s writing scene via the pro Beijing Australian-Chinese Writer’s Association. In May 2017 Secretary of the Department of Defence confirmed “China is actively trying to manipulate public opinion in the Australian-Chinese community and “effectively controls some Chinese-language media in Australia.”

Classified Chinese Government documents revealed other operatives were directed to infiltrate overseas churches accommodating Chinese congregations. The officially coded files ordered the cadres to monitor, infiltrate and “sinify” overseas Chinese churches by actively promoting the CCP’s concepts of “Chineseness” and “spiritual love.” In 2014 the Canberra Chinese Methodist Church website included a statement that linked the CCP rise to God’s will.