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.
Jocelyn's recent articles
19 January 2023
The tale of the Rabbit and the Tiger: China 2023
The Lunar New Year comes early in 2023, and the incoming Year of the Rabbit offers possibilities of significant changes in personal and national fortunes. Those responsible for formulating Australias China policy are advised to watch developments carefully and be flexible in their responses.
19 December 2022
Half a century: Australia, China and the United Nations
On December 21 it will be fifty years since Australia established diplomatic relations with China. The anniversary has already been marked by several events across the country. It is also prompting some reflections in the media. Many draw comparisons between 1972 and 2022, noting that in both years there were significant shifts in Australian foreign policy.
25 October 2022
The party decides: review of the CCP National Congress
More of the same. Thats the outcome of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which concluded at the weekend. The implication for Australia is that we had better get used to it.
14 October 2022
China: How do I fear thee? Let me count the ways
A deep-seated ontological fear is complicating any possible moves towards restoring some semblance of normality in relations with China. There are many strands in this tangled skein. Let me try to pick some of them apart.
25 September 2022
The Defence Strategic Review: China is not a military threat
Australias defence policy is based on an assumed China Threat. If this assumption is maintained, it will be used to justify increased defence spending and a closer defence engagement with the United States and other like-minded countries, including Quad and AUKUS partners.
12 August 2022
What to do about the Treasure Island of Taiwan
Sir, with no intention to take offence, I deny your right to put words into my mouth, Captain Smollett said in Stevensons classic Treasure Island.
12 July 2022
When words matter: Reviewing the Wong-Wang meeting
Failure to recognise linguistic nuances partly explains the misinterpretation of the meeting by Birtles and other journalists.
17 June 2022
Chinas peace keeping soft power and its new MOOTW regulations
On 15 June President Xi Jinping signed into force new regulations regarding Chinas Military Operations Other Than War usually abbreviated as MOOTW. Eryk Bagshaw of the Sydney Morning Herald immediately declared them to be an expansion of his countrys military capabilities, giving the defence forces the power to protect its interests abroad. The Herald offers its readers consistent negative reporting on China, but in this case Bagshaw also displayed an unfortunate superficial understanding of the country and of the principles and practice of MOOTW.
12 June 2022
Dogfight over the Paracels: Is this how to avoid a Third World War?
The dogfight may belong to the days of the Red Baron, but close aerial manoeuvresare still dangerous and can quickly escalate. Let us hope that is not going to happen between China and Australia.
31 May 2022
Bachelet in China:Insights into Human Rights and Xinjiang
UN Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelets recent visit to China did not impress an international press that has made the treatment of the mainly Muslim Uighur people of Xinjiang province a major ground for the Wests political attacks on China. Their negative comments have missed the main point of the visit, which has opened a new avenue for valuable dialogue.
26 May 2022
Bachelet in China: Will the truth about Xinjiang be uncovered?
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet arrived in China on 22 May, the first such high-level visit since 2005. During her six days in China she will visit the far west province of Xinjiang where the Uighur minority people have been subject to several rights violations, as admitted by her office last year. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on 22 May that Bachelets visit was private and was to enhance exchanges and cooperation and promote the international cause of human rights.
12 April 2022
The Taiwan dilemma: A stark choice
American foreign policy seems to be moving inexorably towards recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation. This would greatly heighten the danger of armed conflict between the US and China and would make Taiwan not more but less secure. The incoming Australian Foreign Minister should consider policy options and their long-term consequences carefully, for our sake and also for Taiwan.
8 April 2022
South Flows the Pearl Book launch speech about Chinese Australian voices
Chinese people have been in this country almost as long as the British. ...Unfortunately, from the 1980s on, following an increase in immigration from Hong Kong, South-East Asia and mainland China, there have been new waves of racism, so that even today the Chinese community still feels marginalised.
18 March 2022
China's Ukraine dilemma
China has clearly been vacillating about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, abstaining from votes in the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly and in various public pronouncements avoiding any reference to war or invasion.
11 March 2022
Russia, China and the Game of Weiqi. Ukraine is not a predictor of Taiwan
Scott Morrison is beating up fear of an Arc of Autocracy in a bid to boost his electoral chances. This short-term objective will not help Australia win the complex game of Weiqi chess currently being played in our region. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is not a predictor of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, and neither situation directly threatens Australia to the extent Morrison would have you believe.
22 February 2022
It is hard to dismount from a Tiger
The well-known Chinese proverb, When youre riding a tiger, its hard to get off is a particularly apt description of Australias relations with China in 2022, the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese calendar.
13 December 2021
Bad sport: harsh training regimes amount to human rights abuses
The International Olympic Committee should step up to protect athletes from brutal treatment while training for elite competition.
21 November 2021
Liberals fear-mongering wont be effective: former Australian diplomat
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade claims that it promotes and protects Australia's international interests to support our security and prosperity. I believe it has failed in this objective.
7 October 2021
As Taiwan and the Mainland face off, Scott Morrison must keep calm
Political leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been facing off against each other. Taiwan has been called the most dangerous place on earth. Exaggeration, maybe, but Australia should be careful not to get involved in any confrontation.
23 September 2021
Crying wolf: How to stop talk of war with China
How might it be possible to stop talk of war with China? Are our civil and military leaders, and their loyal press simply crying wolf? Or is there a real and present threat that might justify war talk?
24 August 2021
Border Security: China's 'Wall of Steel' with Afghanistan
The Chinese government has deep concerns about security on its western borders following Taliban success in Afghanistan. China and the US share an interest in ensuring that the incoming Taliban government does not foster Islamic extremism and export it to its neighbours. Both countries have significant relationships with Pakistan, which is the major patron of the Taliban. It would be good to see them seize this opportunity to strengthen cooperation, and this might perhaps lead to other avenues to improve relations.
26 July 2021
A Reprise of Relations With China
Fifty years ago, Australia had a far-reaching vision of relations with China and Asia. Exactly fifty years ago, in July 1971, Opposition Leader Gough Whitlam first went to Beijing, followed closely by Henry Kissinger. Today, when defence and security put the US first, we seem to be sliding into a new Cold War.
10 July 2021
The battle of the two lines: media comments on the Communist Party of China
Ongoing celebrations in China of the 100thanniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are crafted to build patriotism and national pride and are domestically focussed. Western press reports say that President Xis speech and the 1 July parade demonstrate that China is threatening the rest of the world by demonstrating its growing might. The truth as usual lies somewhere in between. Alternative views are edited out on both sides.
4 July 2021
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 Peoples 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.
27 June 2021
Frances Adamson's "graduation speech" - a conditional pass?
Frances Adamson, outgoing Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), gave a wide-rangingspeech at the National Press Club (NPC) on 23 June, revealing that little if anything was achieved during the five years of her term as departmental head and that her leadership was lacking, or at least, seriously limited by other forces in Canberra.
22 June 2021
Hong Kong, Apple Daily and freedom of the press
The arrest of the chief editor and chief executive of Hong Kongs Apple Daily newspaper signals the end to Hong Kongs free press, according to Western press reports like Austin Ramzy and Tiffany Mays article in the New York Times of 16 June. It is taken as an indication of Beijings growing stranglehold over Hong Kong and its disregard of the rights and norms guaranteed under the framework known as One Country Two Systems.
10 June 2021
The value pack relationship with China
Relations with China are increasingly discussed in terms of values. Liberal values featured inthe Prime Ministers speech in Perth this week. I propose the need to define the term and to rectify the name, as Confucius said, and to consider how and where it is applied. Then, and only then, can we bring such dialogue back on track.
30 May 2021
Arbitrary detention in China: The case of Yang Hengjun
Australian Ambassador Graham Fletcher, denied observer entry to the closed court hearing of the case against Australian citizen Yang Hengjun, told the press on 27 May that the case was one of arbitrary detention. This was not an off-the-cuff remark or an attempt to further damage relations with China.
18 May 2021
How to understand China: which books to read?
New books on China are flooding the market but their scope and quality are variable. Publishers have recognised that the public is keen to understand more about our major trading partner and the strategic challenges of the new world order.Readers would be well advised however to read the reviews before placing their orders. One book in particular should be avoided as it is likely to be tendentious and lacking factual information.
4 May 2021
Democracy with Hong Kong characteristics
Hong Kong will hold elections to a newly enlarged Legislative Council in December. This is the first election held since Beijing enacted national security legislation for the territory in June 2020. It is doubtful that Hong Kongs pro-democracy pan-dems, who dominated the former legislature, will win even a handful of seats. If they do, they will form a token opposition but Beijing is not wholly to blame for this. pro-democracy activists must also shoulder the blame.
4 February 2021
Hong Kong's passports: London fixes mess created by imperialist push
The key acknowledgement behind the UK's new immigrations scheme is that the UK no longer fears being swamped by Asians but on the contrary sees potential financial benefit from an influx of wealthy and well-educated Hong Kong families.
31 January 2021
Time to dial down racist rhetoric targeted at Australian universities
Racial profiling characterises some submissions to the Senate inquiry into universities, and the Australian Chinese community is again being targeted. Meanwhile, President Biden is instructing agencies to avoid xenophobic rhetoric, a wise strategy for Australia.
13 January 2021
Planting booby traps for Joe Biden in Taiwan
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the dying days of Donald Trumps presidency, announced on 9 January that all contact guidelines regulating when and how US officials could interact with their Taiwan counterparts were null and void.
6 January 2021
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 Peoples 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.
27 December 2020
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 lets ask the question of Vera, Who killed 2020?
13 December 2020
"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 Kongs 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.
1 December 2020
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 Peoples Republic of China, who, as everyone knows from numerous press reports and commentaries in recent months, has been threatening our trade and undermining our public institutions.
15 November 2020
Downfall of Hong Kongs 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.
12 November 2020
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 present opportunities for Australia to rebuild a positive relationship without prejudicing valid security concerns.
12 October 2020
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.
8 August 2020
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 Peoples 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.
6 August 2020
Exposing the Hidden Hand
Clive Hamiltons 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 Peoples Republic of China.
19 July 2020
Hong Kong: No new Belfast solution
Scott Morrisons 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.
30 June 2020
Canberra Shuffles its China Briefcase to decouple,rather than improve relations.
After more than half a years 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.
10 June 2020
Hong Kong autonomy and the National Peoples Congress (EAF, 9.6.20)
Hong Kongs future isgloomy,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 tensions.
27 May 2020
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 social media. Those looking for objective or nuanced reporting have to work harder.
25 May 2020
Hong Kong's fate in the balance
A national security bill for Hong Kong will be put to the National Peoples Congress (NPC) now meeting in Beijing. This aims to end an impasse in Hong Kongs Legislative Council, which has never passed local legislation to enact Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kongs mini constitution, to which the citizens of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) remain adamantly opposed.
14 May 2020
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 Peoples Congress.
30 April 2020
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.