Quivering NGV crystallises Australia’s Hong Kong cowardice

By in Australian Politics, China American Cold War, Featured Article

| 23 comments

Via Domain come a pack of &[email protected]#$^ cowards:

Pop star and activist Denise Ho has accused the National Gallery of Victoria of censorship after an event about the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests was cancelled.

Organisers say the venue cited security concerns as the reason for not allowing the event to go ahead, and that it was rejected by several of Melbourne’s cultural institutions on similar grounds.

The event, ‘Be Water: Hong Kong vs China’, seeks to bring together Ms Ho, political cartoonist Badiucao and other academics to discuss the months-long protests gripping Hong Kong and the future of the city.

The event promises a “talk on art and resistance in Hong Kong” and comes as violent protests in the Chinese city are on the brink of entering a third month.

Good grief. If we’re so at risk of CPC violence, then why is nothing being done at the policy level? Why is Manchurian Dan (Andrews) signing up to the BRI when it means we can’t even put on an arts show at home?

While the quivering Melbourne arts community hides under a blanket, the University of Sydney parades its corruption, also at Domain:

University of Sydney vice-chancellor Michael Spence has defended the university’s decision to continue hosting a Confucius Institute on campus, saying it is no different to other language-teaching bodies funded by foreign governments.

“The Confucius Institute is like the Alliance Francaise or Goethe-Institut. It teaches Chinese language and culture,” Dr Spence said. “This is not people sitting around reading the Little Red Book.”

…Jeffrey Gil, a Flinders University academic who has written a book on Confucius Institutes, said while Dr Spence’s description of the institutes as language teaching bodies was largely accurate, their presence on campus had raised concerns.

“The other language and culture promotion organisations are completely separate from universities,” Dr Gil said. “This arrangement is part of the reason Confucius Institutes are so controversial though – critics see their location on campuses as allowing them to influence academic research and discussion of China.”

Kick them out. It’s not that bloody hard. They are organs of “sharp power” and do not belong on campus. As eminent Sinologist Stephen Fitzgerald has previously argued at the ABC:

Mr Fitzgerald said he believed these centres, known as Confucius institutes, had no place in Australian higher education institutions.

“I just don’t think they should be in universities,” he said.

“Have them in Australia by all means; have them all over the country. I’d welcome them, but I don’t think they should be in universities.”

Meanwhile, as Australia kow tows, the CPC has stuck a gun to the head of another diplomatic hostage, at the ABC:

Australian writer and political commentator Yang Hengjun is potentially facing the death penalty or years in jail after Chinese authorities formally arrested him on suspicion of spying.

Dr Yang, 54, had been under investigation for harming China’s national security, but Australian diplomats have now been notified that he is under suspicion of committing crimes of espionage.

ABC correspondent Bill Birtles says Dr Yang has now been formally arrested, which is another step towards being charged in China’s opaque and secretive legal system.

He has been detained without access to family or lawyers since January.

But, at least a few individuals still have cojonies, also at the ABC:

While many foreigners are contemplating a move away from Hong Kong as widespread protests continue to grip the city of 7 million, one Australian expat is joining the fight against Beijing.

The unrest and uncertainty over what protesters might do — or what actions China might take — is leading some within Australia’s 100,000-strong expat community to question whether the city is still safe.

But Australian citizen Daniel, who classifies himself as a peaceful middle-class professional, joined the demonstrations in June and has continued to show his support for the movement.

“In Australia we have proper democracy but in Hong Kong, democracy is being slowly eroded away and I’ll try to do whatever I can to try and help the cause,” he said.

“I’ve been taking part in most of the rallies and the unlawful assemblies.”

Hong Kong’s property tycoons are hurting, the share market is tanking and the tourism sector has taken a beating as the pro-democracy movement continues to strangle the city.

The idea of violence as a legitimate form of political expression, hand-in-hand with peaceful protest, is becoming increasingly mainstream in the evolving tactics of a decentralised pro-democracy movement.

“The peaceful protests didn’t get anywhere, so people feel they have to take some more extreme measures and I understand that,” Daniel said.

He does not believe peaceful protests will get the attention of the Chinese communist party.

“You need something extreme to bring Hong Kong to a standstill, or to destroy Hong Kong’s economy for China to say ‘we don’t want a stake in Hong Kong’ and back off,” he said.

Born and raised in Western Australia, the financial sector worker is the same age as the twenty-somethings taking to the streets, allowing him to sympathise with their cause for a democratic future.

Despite having the safety of an Australian passport, the ABC cannot reveal Daniel’s full identity, because his support for the movement puts him at risk of being detained when he travels to the mainland for work.

“There are cameras everywhere. If China wants to identify you, it can,” he explained.

“Last week there were some police dressing up as protesters and the suspicion is, they are Chinese police. That just adds to the terror that Chinese police are coming down to Hong Kong to clear the protests.”

The protesters sport full battle-ready gear of hard hats, gas masks and protective clothing.

As the ABC followed Daniel at one of the protest rallies, he nervously looked around and frequently glanced up at the surrounding high-rise buildings, telling us there are security cameras capturing our every move.

“These cameras have 5G technology and do facial recognition. The government says it’s to monitor traffic, but I think it’s a load of bullshit,” Daniel said.

“People are covering their faces because they’re scared that one day if China does overtake Hong Kong, they’ll have to pay for their actions.”

Reports have emerged in recent weeks that those crossing the Hong Kong-China border have had their phones checked for materials related to the protests.

“We have heard stories of immigration searching through phones and if they find any anti-Chinese messages, they will lock you up and even take you to one of those brainwashing detention camps,” he said.

Good for you, mate. You’re an inspiration. But let’s not forget that there is every chance that UQ, UTS and Curtin are collaborating in your apprehension.

It’s time we launch a royal commission into university corruption. Initiate a federal ICAC. Seek to diversify trade risk. Cut immigration and deepen ties with the US and like-minded democracies.

You know, actually fight for our democracy for our kids.

David Llewellyn-Smith
Latest posts by David Llewellyn-Smith (see all)

Comments

    • ComingMEMBER

      Yes and I think we can also imagine the likelihood of a similar representation of Mohammed being alllowed on display

      It’s this shared bizarre mental illness of white people in the 21st century

      I wonder how future generations will look back on it

      • PeachyMEMBER

        You forgot the mandatory “PBUH” and the acknowledgment of elders, past and present…and emerging.

      • HadronCollisionMEMBER

        Peachy, praytell, how is this akin to a simple acknowledgement of traditional owners…

      • GavinMEMBER

        @Hadron, it all seems so meaningless doesn’t it? When people waffle on about that, I just think “lame”. You’re just virtue signaling for everyone else. It’s all about “look at me” I care – nonsense. At least that’s the way I see it.

      • HixtarMEMBER

        Where I work (public service), all our structured meetings are expected to start with an acknowledgement of country. It’s complete and utter lip service and blatant virtue signalling. I appreciate it in larger forums, but having it at mandated for every…single…meeting renders it meaningless. Just waffled words off a script.

  2. Thallus

    Mr Yang Hengjun can only blame himself for his predicament. China does not recognize dual citizenship of Chinese born people, yet Mr Hengjun retained onto his Hukou residency status. Now if you are in the CCP cross hairs as a political enemy you’d be extremely stupid to travel back for allegedly business (Daigou trade) purposes when you still have PRC residency rights. Buy all rights DFAT should have advised Mr Hengjun to formally renounce his PRC citizenship / Hukou status at the Chinese consulate when applying for a visa on his Australian passport.
    But if it did that, the Chinese would automatically refuse him a visa to enter and this situation would not occur.

    • McPaddyMEMBER

      Must agree. Don’t know why anybody who has publicly questioned/attacked the CCP would risk visiting China.

    • Ronin8317MEMBER

      Upon getting Australian citizenship, the Chinese citizenship is automatically revoked. He is not arrested for violating the hukou system, he is arrested for spying : a crime that does not require evidence for conviction.

      • Thallus

        No it isn’t, you must inform them as countries such as Australia do not inform them because it will kill Australia’s SIV visa broker market$$$ we have here. One can renounce any Chinese consulate, and every now and then they have a crackdown.
        https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/04/02/overseas-chinese-nervous-cancellation-household-registration-back-home/
        The catch is when Chinese born are arrested for ‘criminal’ activites the Chinese consider the arrested as one of theirs first, because that person has not formally renounced their citizenship / Hukou rights. Its been on their statue books since 1980
        https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cgny/eng/lsqz/laws/t42221.htm
        You’ll find other countries in Asia have the same policy, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia.
        From Mr Hengjun’s professional background while working for the Government of China in their Ministry of Foreign Affairs – HE SHOULD KNOW CHINESE LAW.
        He’s a bloody idiot for going back, especially for the Diagou trade which he seemed to be dabbling in.

    • mark777

      Yep, how dare he publish factual content on the Chinese Corruption Party, nothing must be presented to the outside world that will influence people in seeing for what they really are.

      The Chinese I work with all hold onto their Chinese citizenship, it’s a safety net if things go bad here, even though their kids have enjoyed such freedoms, they are prepared to go back to that place, I strongly doubt it.

      • Nathan

        “If things go bad here” just lmao!

        Wut? If Mad Max becomes true? How bad would it have to get here?

  3. Ronin8317MEMBER

    Some foreigner wants to destroy Hong Kong in order to save it? Where did it hear that line before? @[email protected] The line about ‘democracy being eroded’ shows the guy knows nothing about HK, and joined the protest as an anarchist. Except for a lot of people dying, calling for violence in HK protest will not achieve what they’re after. That guy should be deported back to Australia.

    HK never had democracy : the Chief Executive is Beijing appointed, and being able to elect the chief executive via a popular vote is one of the demand of the protest. What HK does have is a well established rule of law, and that is what the CCP is eroding away.

  6. MRW71

    So…Vice Chancellors defend Confucian Institutes (CPC shrills) as no big deal. But Ramsay’s study centre for Western Civilisation (that millions of local HK folks are fighting for) is completely unacceptable at ANU, Sydney Uni, and likely other centres.
    Complete BS. Cut uni funding and bring them to heal.

  7. Svetlana

    The cafe socialists at the NGV are blind to the Gilete Jaunes protests against Macron for nearly a year.