Supporting China on the East Sea, Australian MP gets 'stoned'

The storm of criticism over MP Sam Dastyari's pro-China comments reflects concerns about Beijing's ambitions in the country's politics.

Senator Sam Dastyari. Photo: SMH

On August 31, the Australian Financial Review shocked Australian politics when it revealed that Labor senator Sam Dastyari had expressed support for China's stance on the East Sea, which went against the policies of his party and the Australian government.

"The South China Sea is China's own issue. On this issue, Australia needs to remain neutral and respect China's decision," Mr. Dastyari said at a press conference with Chinese media on June 17.

China has always claimed sovereignty over the "nine-dash line" that covers almost the entire area of ​​the East Sea. This claim was rejected by the Arbitral Tribunal in its ruling on July 12, but Beijing has declared that it ignores it and is trying to attract international governments and politicians to support that position.

The revelation immediately sparked a wave of strong criticism from the Australian public and political circles. A series of political opponents and important allies of Senator Dastyari have criticized him and called for an investigation.

Liberal MP Craig Laundy called the act "deliberately reckless". Tony Burke, a senior member of Dastyari's right-wing faction, rejected the claims.Dastyari, reaffirming the Labor Party's stance on the East Sea issue, that "all parties need to respect international law and show restraint".

The Australian Labor Party has always firmly opposed China's reckless actions that disregard international law in the East Sea, and supports efforts to promote the country's navy to conduct freedom of navigation patrols near the artificial islands that Beijing illegally built in this area.

The wave of criticism against Senator Dastyari intensified after Fairfax Media revealed that Huang Xiangmo, a donor with links to the Chinese government, had spent $1,670 on travel expenses that exceeded his allowance.

Senator Dastyari’s interests records show that he regularly receives grants and invitations to visit China from various Chinese organisations. He was once paid $40,000 by Huang Xiangmo for legal assistance. Huang has recently complained that Chinese-Australian donors are not “properly rewarded” by politicians despite their financial support.

Chinese media once quoted Mr. Dastyari as saying that "the Australian government needs to abandon its hostile stance towards China's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In early 2014, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was criticized by her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi for strongly opposing Beijing's declaration of an ADIZ in the East China Sea.

Speaking to the press, Senator Dastyari admitted to "making a mistake" in accepting funding from Huang Xiangmo's Leading Education Institute, but could not explain why the organization agreed to pay for his travel expenses.

Josh Frydenberg, Australia's energy and environment minister, said Mr Dastyari could not be trusted to handle his own finances, "let alone Australia's foreign policy".

"There have been some very worrying comments made by Sam Dastyari in relation to the South China Sea. There have been many comments made about Dastyari's conduct and his conduct, and like Senator Cory Bernardi, I think this is something he has to answer for," Mr Frydenberg told Sky News.

Mr Bernardi has previously called Dastyari a "Manchurian MP", and is leading a push against the senator, demanding his resignation and calling for an inquiry into the influence of foreign money on Australian politics.

"One of the highest paid officials in the country could not afford $1,670 in travel expenses. The connection between Senator Dastyari and the Chinese government is very unusual," Bernardi said.

Fear

Mr. Tony Burke was harsh with the statement of his ally Dastyari. Photo: SMH

According to analysts, the storm of criticism aimed at Mr. Dastyari reflects concerns and worries in Australian politics regarding China's influence on the country's politicians, in the context that Canberra has not yet been able to draw a clear line between protecting national security interests and strengthening economic relations with Beijing.

SMH commentator Kelsey Munro said the Dastyari case showed how Australian MPs could be influenced by financial interests from China, and could make comments that influenced the official views of political parties and governments.

Recently, the Australian Parliamentary Library published a short book urging parliamentarians to be more cautious in expressing their views on China's interests in the East Sea, as well as to be wary of the real motives behind China's investments in the country.

“Creating a China-led Eurasian bloc to counter the United States is a long-term goal of Beijing’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ project, which includes investments in northern Australia,” the book says.

The book's consultants also recommend that the Australian government adopt a more economically and strategically prudent approach in deciding the direction of the Australia-China economic relationship.

The warnings come as Treasurer Scott Morrison has blocked plans to sell the Ausgrid electricity network to mainland Chinese and Hong Kong investors over "undisclosed security concerns".

Previously, Mr. Morrison also refused to sell most of the cattle farms of the country's largest company, S. Kidman & Co., to the Chinese company Dakang Australia Holdings.

China is now Australia's largest trading partner and foreign investor, with total investment of2015 is$11.1 billion into economic sectors, mainly real estate, according to accounting and consulting firm KPMG and the University of Sydney.

However, Canberra's decision to lease a key commercial and military port in the country's north to a Chinese contractor last year has raised security concerns in Washington, especially as the US increasingly relies on Australia in its Asia "rebalance" strategy.

Although many Australian politicians and scholars are concerned that the government's tough stance on the South China Sea and foreign investment could seriously affect trade relations with China, economics professor Ian Harper asserts that Beijing will not be able to use trade as a weapon against Canberra.

"China is investing heavily in areas like electricity and livestock, and I don't think their investors can just pull back. Nothing will change, we will get through this and continue to develop," Harper stressed.

According to VNE