Writer
Jocelyn Chey
Jocelyn Chey is Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney and Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University and UTS. She formerly held diplomatic posts in China and Hong Kong. She is a member of the Order of Australia (AM) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
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The Murder of 2020
During the weeks and months of restrictions this year, I became addicted to the British TV crime series Vera. Vera is moody and temperamental, but she gets results, with no sex, no romance, no ghosts or extra-terrestrial influence, just terrific acting and good mystery. So let’s ask the question of Vera, “Who killed 2020?” Continue reading »
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“To Catch Crabs on a Hill”: Hong Kong in Review 2020
“To catch crabs on a hill” is a Cantonese expression meaning something almost impossible. Hong Kong’s prospects are as bleak as that, but it would be a mistake to write the territory off completely. There is a dynamism in local culture, reflected in its pithy proverbs, that may yet save the day. Continue reading »
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Challenging the wolves: how to reply to Beijing’s tweet
An unexpected tweet from a senior Chinese diplomat on Monday 29 November provided a perfect excuse for the Prime Minister to divert attention from his domestic problems, to praise our gallant defence forces, to refer to our national values, and to stand up to the People’s Republic of China, who, as everyone knows from numerous Continue reading »
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Downfall of Hong Kong’s Gang of Four
When the Hong Kong government disqualified four members of the Legislative Council, prompting the resignation of all other pro-democracy legislators, the Council was effectively turned into a rubber stamp. Continue reading »
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Reading the China Tea Leaves
There are still chances to engage with China in a positive and beneficial way if Canberra is so inclined. Beijing continues to make overtures. Technical and cultural exchanges continue, and the business community has its own avenues for communication. A change of government in the US in 2021 will re-invigorate multilateral platforms. All of these Continue reading »
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Will Australia Seize back the China Crown?
While the outcome of the US elections remains unclear the future direction of US-China relations also remain uncertain. This presents a new opportunity for Canberra to mend some bridges with Beijing if it wishes to do so. Continue reading »
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China Series: Where To From Here?(A repost from 23.12.2019)
A SERIES of posts on this blog in the last two weeks have highlighted aspects of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that are often overlooked in discussion of the bilateral relationship. We have to get used to living with the Chinese elephant in our neighbourhood. Continue reading »
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Exposing the Hidden Hand
Clive Hamilton’s new book Hidden Hand: “Exposing How the Chinese Communist Party is Reshaping the World” is a diatribe. We do not need this hysteria when we are trying to maintain a modicum of practical relations with the People’s Republic of China. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong: No new Belfast solution
Scott Morrison’s proposal of a safe haven for Hong Kong people was never going to happen, and perhaps just another attempt to rile Beijing. Britain and the US have much to answer for in the present state of affairs, and Australia should refrain from precipitating actions. Continue reading »
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Canberra Shuffles its China Briefcase to decouple,rather than improve relations.
After more than half a year’s delay, Foreign Minister Maryse Payne has announced the appointment of a new Chair of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, Ms Pru Bennett, a senior advisor to the global strategic advisory Brunswick Group. Continue reading »
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Hong Kong autonomy and the National People’s Congress (EAF, 9.6.20)
Hong Kong’s future is gloomy, but it should not be written off yet. It plays a vital role in the interface between China and the rest of the world Its future is not and never could be autonomy and most Hongkongers understand that. It may be that outside forces have prompted some to make such demands and exacerbated Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Marsupial Madness and the Batty Media
Reliable sources of information on Australian ties with China do not include the ultra-nationalistic PRC Global Times when it applauds Australia receiving a “slap to the face,” or the Vision Times, which reports that people have recovered from COVID-19 after reciting the “Nine Sacred Words” of the Falun Gong sect. Nonsense spreads like wildfire through Continue reading »
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Hong Kong’s fate in the balance
A national security bill for Hong Kong will be put to the National People’s Congress (NPC) now meeting in Beijing. This aims to end an impasse in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, which has never passed local legislation to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini constitution, to which the citizens of the Continue reading »
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The Fragrant Harbour and the Northern Capital
After Covid-19 forced a temporary shutdown of protests in Hong Kong they have now re-emerged. Beijing representatives and their local supporters are proposing new challenges. There is no sign of an olive branch and compromise is not on the agenda of the upcoming National People’s Congress. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Who Would Be a Chinese Ambassador?
I write in defence of PRC Ambassador Cheng Jingye, who is accused of threatening a tit-for-tat trade war. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Corona Politics and China Relations
Recent media discussion of relations between Australia and China seems run to a simplistic logic, dividing the world into goodies and baddies. Such a line is being promoted by Donald Trump in an attempt to shift blame for the spread of Covid-19, and now prominent Republican Mitt Romney has joined the chorus, calling for the Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. “People Matter” – Let’s Not Make Exceptions
The corona virus emergency should bring out the best in people, but in some it is causing vicious blame-sharing. Fingers are being pointed at Chinese Australians and accusations levelled of lack of patriotism and even illegal activities. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY: Turbo Charge or Tough It Out? The New Board for the Foundation for Australia-China Relations
One important category of Chinese Australians is not represented, and some choices seem calculated to prejudice improving relations with the People’s Republic of China. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY Two Systems One Strait
The re-election of Tsai Ying-wen at the weekend ensures the continuation of the status quo as far as relations between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic across the Strait. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY.- China Series: Where To From Here?(A repost from 23.12.2019)
A SERIES of posts on this blog in the last two weeks have highlighted aspects of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that are often overlooked in discussion of the bilateral relationship. We have to get used to living with the Chinese elephant in our neighbourhood. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY China: Where To From Here?
A series of posts on this blog in the last two weeks have highlighted aspects of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that are often overlooked in discussion of the bilateral relationship. We have to get used to living with the Chinese elephant in our neighbourhood. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Immutable China?
China is often described as a nation with unchanging values and an alien culture, inscrutable and radically different from our own. Chinese culture is said to be characterised by unquestioning loyalty to the State, emphasis on the group to the prejudice of the individual, networks of personal and business connections (the term guanxi has entered Continue reading »
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Pearls and Irritations China Series.
Spying. Lobbying. Corruption. Debt trap diplomacy. It seems Australia’s relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have sunk to an all-time low. It is therefore all the more important to understand that country. Criticisms of its present government and of the Chinese Communist Party are often justified but not when they are based on Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. One Two,Buckle my Seatbelt; Hong Kong’s Special Status
The world has changed hugely since 1984. China of course has grown richer and more powerful. Since Xi Jinping was made Party and state leader in 2013 it has changed in more sinister ways. He has increased central control and waged a campaign to suppress dissent. Hong Kong’s special status under “One Country Two Systems” Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. “A Solution of Sorts”
Public trust in China as a responsible international player has declined dramatically according to the Lowy Institute’s annual poll released this week. The reasons for this are not hard to find since there has been ongoing anti-China propaganda in the media over the last year. Just as the orators in C.P. Cavafy’s 1904 poem “Waiting Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY Hongkongers deserve support.
Sunday’s march on Hong Kong’s Legislative Council brought an estimated million people onto the streets, which if true would make it the largest demonstration in the history of the Special Administrative Region. The reason for the demonstration was the proposed Extradition Treaty, which will be debated on Tuesday 11thJune. Legislators will do well to Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Remembering June Fourth
As people in Australia and around the world remember the events of June Fourth 1989, I think back to my own experience. The story is worth repeating and perhaps can give some guidance to all who are presently trying to deal with the conundrum that is the People’s Republic of China. Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Civilisations should not clash
The United States relationship with China has been defined by a State Department senior official as a clash of civilisations. China’s response was given by President Xi Jinping in a speech that stressed the importance of respect for all cultures. Each side however interprets civilisation and culture in a narrow sense that prejudices dialogue. Let Continue reading »
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JOCELYN CHEY. Cyber-security need not tear countries apart
Telecommunications company Huawei legal action against the US Government’s ban on their involvement in 5G roll-out is a counter attack on claims that their involvement would impact national security. Exaggerated fears about cyber threat are part of a US campaign to contain China, and form the background to this week’s warning to the UK Government Continue reading »
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What to do about Human Rights in China
Human rights in China are under threat. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) government ignores international representations. Should Australia even attempt to intervene? What would we risk? The easy course would be to do the minimum and restrict our representations to cases where Australian citizens and interests are directly involved. Despite possible repercussions for other Continue reading »