China's Huawei top sponsor of Australian politicians' overseas trips

 

FILE PHOTO: The Huawei logo is seen during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

 

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY (Reuters) - Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] is the biggest corporate sponsor of overseas travel for Australian politicians, according to an analysis of travel disclosure registers by an Australian think-tank.

 

The report comes as several politicians have called for Huawei to be banned from participating in a roll-out of Australia's 5G next-generation communications network, amid fears the company is effectively controlled by the Chinese government.

 

It also lands amid a low in Sino-Australian relations and intense concern at Chinese influence in Australian politics.

 

Australia is preparing to pass laws designed to limit China's influence in domestic affairs following criticism by Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that Beijing was interfering.

 

The research from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) found Huawei paid for 12 trips by Australian federal politicians to the company's headquarters in Shenzhen, including business class flights, local travel, accommodation and meals, between 2010 and this year, based on politicians' disclosures.

 

Politicians who took those trips include Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Trade Minister Steve Ciobo and former Trade Minister Andrew Robb.

 

Huawei accounted for 12 out of 55 corporate-sponsored trips by federal politicians, the ASPI research found.

 

Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals Group <FMG.AX> was the second-largest corporate sponsor, paying for five trips, according to the research, while the biggest non corporate sponsor was the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council which paid for 44 trips.

 

Huawei, which denies it is controlled by the Chinese government, is the world's largest maker of telecommunications network equipment and the No. 3 smartphone supplier. It has already been virtually shut out of the giant U.S. market because of national security concerns.

 

Huawei's Australian spokesman, Jeremy Mitchell, said the company was not doing anything improper.

 

"We openly invite media, business, think tanks and politicians to visit us and understand us better," Mitchell told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC), which first reported the story.

 

Three of the politicians who travelled on a Huawei-sponsored trip told the ABC the trips were all-expenses paid study tours to see China's technological growth.

 

Australian security agencies and Huawei have clashed over worries that the firm's links to China make its hardware a data security risk.

 

It was blocked on security grounds from supplying equipment to Australia's new broadband network and Australia this month promised hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure Huawei did not build an internet cable between Australia and the Solomon Islands.

 

(Reporting by Sonali Paul in MELBOURNE and Tom Westbrook in SYDNEY; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Michael Perry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-26

I feel bad for the Aussies, down there all alone, of course they became China's Biatch, they just didn't have many options.

1 hour ago, canuckamuck said:

I feel bad for the Aussies, down there all alone, of course they became China's Biatch, they just didn't have many options.

Guess you didn't read the final paragraph of the OP nor have knowledge of other matters concerning the Sino - Oz relationship.

5 hours ago, simple1 said:

Guess you didn't read the final paragraph of the OP nor have knowledge of other matters concerning the Sino - Oz relationship.

 

Yep the free-bee all expenses paid nice little tours didn't deliver the result the supplier wanted.

 

But maybe someone should consider the wisdom of their MP's and Ministers going on all expenses paid nice little jaunts. Wonder what the entertainment was like.

14 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Yep the free-bee all expenses paid nice little tours didn't deliver the result the supplier wanted.

 

But maybe someone should consider the wisdom of their MP's and Ministers going on all expenses paid nice little jaunts. Wonder what the entertainment was like.

IMO politicians and their advisers should be banned from accepting foreign entities funded travel and gifts. Plus political parties / politicians should be barred from receiving foreign donations.

Edited June 26, 20188 yr by simple1

15 hours ago, simple1 said:

IMO politicians and their advisers should be banned from accepting foreign entities funded travel and gifts. Plus political parties / politicians should be barred from receiving foreign donations.

Agree ban all foreign donation,freebies, kickbacks add the domestic inequality to mix of LNP Turnbull mob are absolute joke ! But no one's laughing, Aussie ranked 49 out of total of 50 " Australia supposably developed rich countries pays below poverty line old age pension, unemployment ? how any one can survive living on a disgraceful poverty line pensions beyond me, everyday more are forced living on streets or in their car they can't afford pay rent, pay utility bills etc,. but still bringing in record numbers of refugees at the expense of older and other Australians? who are inneed of desperate help But all Parties voted last week gave themselves $7000 pay rise,and tax free , Gave Pensioners nothing???

Edited June 27, 20188 yr by Mad mick
ERROR

22 hours ago, simple1 said:

Guess you didn't read the final paragraph of the OP nor have knowledge of other matters concerning the Sino - Oz relationship.

 

Chinada is about 10 years ahead of the Aussies with respect to their Sino relationship.

That's why we voted for a Maoist Prime Minister

On ‎6‎/‎26‎/‎2018 at 12:12 PM, canuckamuck said:

I feel bad for the Aussies, down there all alone, of course they became China's Biatch, they just didn't have many options.

 

Everyone will become China's bitch, eventually... just give it time

59 minutes ago, NumbNut said:

 

Everyone will become China's bitch, eventually... just give it time

A definite possibility.