June 7, 2005

An awkward reminder of the nature of the regime in Beijing has intruded on Australia's embrace with China.

Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin has publicly confronted Australia with the unspoken difficulties of its relationship with China in a way that neither government would welcome. Indeed, according to Mr Chen, his bid for political asylum was refused within 24 hours of approaching immigration authorities on May 26, at which stage he had not even had a meeting to discuss his application. More troubling still, he says authorities ignored his offer of detailed intelligence on the activities of 1000 Chinese agents in Australia and immediately informed the Chinese embassy of his request for asylum. Mr Chen then went public in a high-risk but shrewdly calculated appearance in Sydney on Saturday. At a rally to mark the 16th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators, Mr Chen said China still had no political or religious freedom, "although the economy is good". Therein lies the dilemma for the Australian Government, which has invested so much in closer political and economic relations with China.

China is highly sensitive about its human rights record, particularly in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and Australia has reason to fear the costs of a diplomatic incident. Yet in recent years, Australia has repeatedly committed troops to causes that drew upon the very values of democracy and liberty to which Mr Chen is now appealing. The Australian Government faces a test of both diplomatic discretion and its commitment to these values. It is sensible for ministers and officials to limit their public comment so as to avoid inflaming any differences with China. There are also, as Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said, sound reasons for not discussing intelligence matters. ASIO is known to be concerned about Chinese agents, however, and Mr Chen said it had not contacted him. While China accuses Mr Chen of making up stories because he did not want to return home as scheduled, his allegations are too serious to be simply ignored. Mr Chen, who told the rally that his job was "to monitor and persecute the democracy activists and Falun Gong practitioners in Australia", went further with his claim that Chinese agents had abducted dissidents. These claims raise issues of national security that must be investigated.

As for Mr Chen's fate, Mr Downer said the Immigration Department would weigh up whether Mr Chen would face persecution if returned to China. We feel less constrained in saying that, as a result of drawing attention to the dark side of his masters in Beijing (who are likely to construe his actions and views as treason), Mr Chen would suffer serious persecution - a long jail term at the least. Mr Downer and Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone have given assurances that his case will be assessed on its merits, as it must be, and the Foreign Minister can grant a territorial asylum visa, a rarely used power. It is proper for the Government to act as discreetly as possible, but it would be shameful were Australia to betray its own values by sacrificing an individual on the altar of commercial relations with China.