Article: Laws on Foreign Influence Just the Beginning in the Fight against Chinese Coercion
During a whirlwind trip to Australia, I wrote an op-ed for the Sydney Morning Herald on the importance of Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull’s counter-interference legislation. The laws strengthen Australia’s democratic institutions, but are only the beginning. As I wrote, “The challenge is to effectively define and counter illegitimate foreign influence without falling victim to the McCarthyist witch hunts that occurred across the West when Soviet infiltration was exposed.”
Key Takeaways:
- Resisting Chinese coercion requires the government to expend political capital and resources to monitor foreign influence, prosecute offenders, and facilitate public debate
- A robust free press is a critical element of strengthening our resilience and countering covert influence
- Recognize coercion for what it is: a foreign government committing violence against our citizens on our soil
Related Content
- “China’s ‘Three Warfares’ in Perspective,” War on the Rocks, January 30, 2018
- “Australia Is Debating Chinese Influence. Should the U.S. Do the Same?” ChinaFile, June 11, 2017
- “Power and Influence: The Hard Edge of China’s Soft Power,” ABC Four Corners, June 5, 2017
Suggested Readings
- Peter Hartcher, “‘Icebreakers’: How Beijing Seeks to Influence the West,” Sydney Morning Herald, December 5, 2017
- Feng Chongyi, “Profits, Freedom, and China’s ‘Soft Power’ in Australia,” The Conversation, June 5, 2017
- Rory Medcalf, “China’s Influence in Australia is not Ordinary Soft Power,” Australian Financial Review, June 7, 2017