Sydney: A prominent Chinese billionaire political donor has been stripped of his Australian residency and barred from returning to the country after scrutiny of his Communist Party ties, media reported Wednesday.
Huang Xiangmo was reportedly left stranded outside of Australia after Home Affairs cancelled his permanent residency and rejected his application for citizenship. The prominent property developer has donated millions to Australia’s two main political parties and been photographed with key figures including former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten.
But he has come under scrutiny for alleged links to the United Front Work Department – a Communist Party-linked body, accused of neutralising opposition and buying political influence around the world.
Asked about Huang’s case, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he would not comment on such ‘sensitive matters’, but added ‘the government has always acted consistent with the advice that we’ve received and that’s what has happened on this occasion’.
Quoting unnamed sources, the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ newspaper said Huang had his application for an Australian passport blocked on ‘character grounds’ and concerns over the ‘reliability’ of information he had supplied in interviews.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Marise Payne played down suggestions that the decision to strip Xiangmo of his residency could poison relations between Canberra and Beijing.
“I don’t expect it to be the subject of a bilateral discussion. These are matters that occur from time to time,” she told the ‘Australian Broadcasting Corporation’ when asked about the Huang case.
Australia’s main spy agency has long voiced concerns that China was interfering in Australian institutions and using the opaque political donations system to gain access.
AFP