Chinese Spy Network in Australia a Surprise?

The Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin's attempt to defect to Australia towards the end of his diplomatic posting at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney has created a furore that is not surprising. The lengths to which the Howard government has gone recently to ensure smooth relations with Beijing means that such a high-profile dispute could throw a spanner in the works of mutually beneficial political and economic dealings. The surprising part is the faux-shock amongst the Australian media regarding Chen's allegations of a Chinese "spy ring" in Australia, primarily concerned with monitoring alleged Chinese dissidents.

After receiving a less than open welcome at the Immigration Department building in Sydney, Chen fled to Gosford and then into the arms of an eager media. The startling allegations he was to make? China has a thousand-strong spy network in Australia! GASP!

While Australia currently has cordial relations with Beijing, the press seems to have forgotten the fact that over the past 50 years, that the relationship hasn't been one of close alliance and friendship. To sum up the current relationship bluntly, Australia is happy to profit from the relationship, but there is still deep mistrust about Chinese strategic ambitions in the Asia Pacific region. The mistrust extends the other way too with concerns over Australia's seeming inability to seperate in foreign policy from that of Washington in any meaningful manner.

The media also seemed to have forgotten that Australia is home to a significant Chinese population as both permanent and temporary residents, including many asylum seekers of the famous Falun Gong religious cult and other movements that Beijing regards as dissident. As with any large diaspora, loyalties and opinions are divided within the Australian Chinese community. With the divisions within China over this group combined with the sheer size of the Chinese community in Australia, is it truly any surprise that Australian members of Falun Gong and others regarded as Chinese dissidents are being monitored by both local and foreign Beijing loyalists in Australia?