Sensible enough:
#BREAKING Two Australian journalists have just landed in Sydney after being pulled out of China by their news organisations, on fears they were no longer safe. The two are Bill Birtles from the ABC and Michael Smith from the Australian Financial Review. @9NewsAUS #auspol
— Chris Uhlmann (@CUhlmann) September 7, 2020
Hostage diplomacy is one of the favoured tools in the CCP’s armoury of evil. Check this out:
The ABC and the Australian Financial Review have rushed their correspondents out of China after police demanded interviews with both journalists, resulting in an extraordinary diplomatic standoff.
Bill Birtles, the ABC’s correspondent based in Beijing, and Mike Smith, the AFR’s correspondent based in Shanghai, boarded a flight to Sydney last night after the pair were questioned separately by China’s Ministry of State security.
Birtles had spent four days sheltering in Australia’s Embassy in Beijing, while Smith took refuge in Australia’s Shanghai consulate as diplomats negotiated with Chinese officials to allow them to safely leave the country.
The saga began early last week, when Australian diplomats in Beijing cautioned Birtles that he should leave China, with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade giving the same advice to ABC’s managing director David Anderson in Sydney.
Subsequent advice prompted the ABC to organise flights back to Australia for Birtles. He was due to depart last Thursday morning.
But the threatening behaviour from Chinese officials peaked before he could leave, when seven police officers arrived at Birtles’ apartment at midnight last Wednesday as he was holding farewell drinks with friends and colleagues.
They told him he was banned from leaving the country, and that he would be contacted the next day to organise a time to be questioned over a “national security case”.
Birtles called the Australian Embassy and arranged to be collected from his apartment. He stayed in the Beijing diplomatic compound for the next few days, where he was contacted by Chinese officials demanding an interview.
He refused to speak with them, citing fears for his personal safety.
He is not suspected of anything by Chinese authorities.
Birtles was interviewed by Chinese authorities on Sunday, accompanied by Australia’s ambassador to China Graham Fletcher, after an agreement was reached between Australian and Chinese officials that his travel ban would be lifted if he spoke to them.
During the meeting, no questions were asked about his reporting or conduct in China.
Birtles was told by embassy officials after the interview that his travel ban had been rescinded. He was joined by consular staff on a flight from Beijing to Shanghai early on Monday, where he waited for his flight to Sydney.
AFR correspondent Smith was subjected to questioning on Monday evening, after sheltering in the Australian consulate in Shanghai. The AFR made similar arrangements to get him out of the country.
After touching down in Sydney, Birtles said the experience had been a “whirlwind”.
“It’s very disappointing to have to leave under those circumstances, and it’s a relief to be back in a country with a genuine rule of law,” he said.
“This was a whirlwind, and it’s not a particularly good experience.
“It’s just good to be home.”
The drama came only days after China’s Government publicly confirmed the arrest of an Australian journalist working for China’s state media, Cheng Lei.
Of course, if you are a complete idiot, you might want to go back in, at Domain:
New opportunities are also emerging in services. Chinese government policy over the next two years includes a dramatic expansion of vocational training, with about $20 billion worth of funding for 35 million placements, many in West China. China will need international partners to design and deliver vocational education and training. Australia’s VET sector is highly developed and Australian colleges are well regarded in China. There are opportunities to deliver courses in-country or as a pathway to study in Australia.
With no diplomatic or trade representation, the US will have a hard time participating in this growth. As the middle class rapidly emerges in West China it is starting to define its preferences. It is a crucial time for brands to build recognition before the market matures. The Europeans have been quick to act, facilitated by the China-Europe railway that now stretches from Germany to Chongqing. Australian companies can provide solid competition provided they are not discouraged by the current political climate.
China is the only major economy forecast to grow in 2020 and West China will be a major part of this growth. Too closely tying ourselves to American policy will make it more difficult to establish the commercial and trade relations that are in Australia’s interests. The Australian government must nuance its language and approach. In West China, Australia has a competitive advantage with the Australian consulate, Austrade, Austcham and state government trade offices located in Chengdu. Let’s not waste this strategic opportunity.
Kyri Theos is general manager at the Australian Chamber of Commerce in West China.
I suggest Kyri waste it urgently, too.
