According to Taiwan’s local diplomatic representatives, the email sent by Beijing was intended to intimidate local MPs.
Beijing reached out to the 11 NSW MPs who had attended a gala dinner celebrating the inauguration of new Taiwanese President Lai Ching-Te, urging them not to acknowledge the democratically elected island as separate from the mainland.
The email, sent by an unnamed consular official in Sydney, was titled “Concerns Regarding Attendance at the Taiwan-related Event.” It expressed opposition to their participation in the local celebration of Mr. Lai’s accession and suggested that it could jeopardize Australia’s relationship with China, its largest trading partner.
The email emphasized that the consulate “firmly opposes” the MPs’ attendance at the event and urged them to recognize Taiwan as a province of China. It also warned them to handle Taiwan-related issues with caution to avoid straining diplomatic ties.
The message, originating from a Gmail address listed under the Consulate’s “Political & Media Affairs” section on its website, was first reported by the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Multiple MPs, including Hugh McDermott (Labor), Rod Roberts (independent), and members of the Liberal Party such as Jordan Lane, Rachel Merton, Chris Rath, Tim James, Ray Williams, Jacqui Munro, and Mark Coure, confirmed receiving the same email.
NSW Premier Chris Minns expressed that local MPs would not be intimidated by the CCP’s tactics. He stated, “We’re not going to be in a situation where any Labor MP is going to be bullied or intimidated about going to a function, that’s their job as a member of parliament.”
Intention to Intimidate
David Cheng-Wei Wu, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Sydney, conveyed to The Epoch Times that Beijing’s motive was clearly to intimidate the democratically elected MPs and suppress press freedom. He condemned this as another instance of the CCP’s authoritarian expansionism and denounced their efforts to undermine Australia’s democratic values.
Wu highlighted that Beijing was displeased with the MPs’ attendance at the pro-Taiwan event because it challenged their narrative and sought to isolate Taiwan diplomatically. He emphasized that the event celebrated Taiwan’s democratic achievements, contrasting them with the authoritarian nature of the People’s Republic of China.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong refrained from commenting on the Consulate’s email but had previously defended federal MPs’ right to attend the inauguration in Taipei. She reiterated Australia’s commitment to the longstanding One China policy, which has bipartisan support.
