Chinese police hunting international corruption targets were allowed into Australia by the federal police and subsequently escorted a woman back to China for trial, in a major breach of Chinese-Australian police protocols.

The revelations, contained in Monday night’s Four Corners program about a former Chinese spy, prompted a sharp rebuke from federal politicians who are concerned the act may have undermined Australia’s national security.

The Chinese police were permitted to enter Australia in 2019 to talk with a 59-year-old Chinese-born Australian resident.

The woman was targeted under a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) anti-corruption drive called Operation Fox Hunt, which relies on police from the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) to make arrests.

Her case is one of 283 cases documented by an international NGO, Safeguard Defenders, in its recent report, Chasing Fox Hunt.

While Fox Hunt is described by the CCP as targeting “economic criminals”, human rights groups have said it is also used to silence dissidents and abduct people around the world.

  • zephyreks@lemmy.ml
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    6 months ago

    Fraud in China has far worse consequences than fraud in Australia. Even if I were to be arrested, I’d prefer it to happen in Australia where I can get off with a slap on the wrist.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Even if I were to be arrested, I’d prefer it to happen in Australia

      https://nit.com.au/05-02-2024/9636/roebourne-regional-prison-cells-still-without-air-conditioning-in-extreme-heat

      On Monday, as the temperature soared to 43 C in Roebourne, the Service revealed the “distressing outcome” is that prisoners are still living in cells without air-conditioning, in “conditions that could prove fatal from heat stress or heat stroke”.

      Enjoy yourself, I guess.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          True. White collar crimes getting the white glove treatment isn’t unusual in the West, no matter how many lives are ruined.

            • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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              6 months ago

              Oasis agriculture in the Tarim Basin occupies a large part of the population

              In the Tarim Basin, July temperatures average about 80 °F (27 °C)

              After the Cultural Revolution, political and economic policies were moderated, leading to widespread improvement in the livelihood of farmers and pastoralists and to relative stability and economic growth in the region. This was accompanied—especially from the late 1990s—by increased economic investment in Xinjiang, as well as by an influx of Han from other parts of China.

              Sounds awful. Enjoy your Australian prison.

      • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
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        6 months ago

        They’re not saying they want to go to prison in Australia. They’re saying it would obviously be better than going to prison in freaking China.

        I feel like you’re a Chinese prison salesman or something.

        • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          They’re not saying they want to go to prison in Australia.

          No, they’re just hanging their hat on “China Always Worse”.

          you’re a Chinese prison salesman

          That’s a sane and logical conclusion

          • TachyonTele@lemm.ee
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            6 months ago

            they’re just hanging their hat on “China Always Worse”.

            Compared to Australia? Yes, going to prison in China would be worse.

      • barsquid@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        How much you want to bet that jail has even a single white collar criminal in it exposed to 43 C heat?