Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) director Burgess spoke to the media in Canberra last November.

(Associated Press file photo)

Australian think tank report: China targeted 19 countries in 73 cases of coercive diplomacy

[Compilation of Guan Shuping/Comprehensive Report] The Australian think tank "Australian Strategic Policy Institute" (ASPI) released a report on the 22nd, pointing out that China has carried out coercive diplomatic actions against 19 countries in the past two years, and the number one target is Australia, followed by Taiwan. three.

The head of Australia's intelligence agency has also warned that Australia is facing an unprecedented threat of foreign espionage and intervention, and has criticized former pilots training for the authoritarian regime as "running dogs".

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Coercion fails to show Australia's resilience

The ASPI report pointed out that China's "coercive diplomacy" measures such as threats and trade restrictions on 19 countries from 2020 to 22 have "varied" effects on changing the government policies of the target countries. If it is unsuccessful, it highlights Australia's resilience.

"Most governments are steadfast, but some are silently compliant. Undeniably, these tactics are hurting some businesses, challenging sovereign decision-making and undermining economic security," the report said.

The report examines 73 "Chinese coercive acts" in the past two years, 21 of which were against Australia, 11 against Lithuania, and eight against Taiwan; 40% of these coercive acts were trade restrictions.

In terms of regions, Europe is the most common, accounting for 35 cases, accounting for 47%; "The dominance of these means reflects China's abuse of its status as a global trading power, state-run media and "wolf warrior diplomacy"".

Most often coerces Taiwan with core interests

Taiwan is the "core interest" that most often triggers China's use of coercion. Other reasons include China's handling of the Wuhan pneumonia epidemic, Xinjiang and Hong Kong issues, among others.

Australian intelligence agency "Australian Security Intelligence Organization" (ASIO) director Mike Burgess (Mike Burgess) issued an annual threat assessment on the 21st, warning that "multiple countries use espionage and interference activities to promote their interests and weaken Australia", "now More Australians than ever have been targeted by espionage and foreign interference," including judges, media workers and others, but no countries were named.

Burgess said that since September 2001, online activities targeting Australian defense industry workers have increased, when the US, UK and Australian governments announced the establishment of the US-UK-Australia tripartite security alliance AUKUS.

There has also been a "significant and worrying increase" in the targeting of Australian journalists by foreign spies, with intelligence agencies uncovering a plot by a foreign government to recruit senior Australian journalists, allegedly using a fully paid "study mission".

Australia's intelligence chief criticizes lackeys for copying spies

He revealed that ASIO had cleared a "spy nest" in the past 12 months. Some spies had been undercover in Australia for several years, trying to steal sensitive information.

ASIO has recently uncovered two intelligence activities "from two different countries" in an attempt to harm the personal safety of Australian residents. One of the cases targeted a human rights worker and planned to lure him abroad to "solve".

Burgess said ASIO had also been tracking a "small but worrying" number of defense insiders for several years, preventing some military ex-servicemen from being lured into training military skills for an authoritarian government.

He criticized these former pilots as "running dogs" and "top tools instead of top guns" and "selling out our country's combat skills is tantamount to selling out our country's secrets."