The Long Reach of Xi Jinping !

China is a  political conundrum.  The tenet of a Communist state is public ownership of everything so that the wealth of the country can serve the citizens.  That's fine in theory, but when Russia went Communist in 1917 that promised " workers utopia " failed to materialise.  It quickly degenerated into a dictatorship with Joseph Stalin imposing his iron fist and determination to impose Communism on the rest of the world.

The early years of China's Communism were brutal. Mao's " great leap forward " produced famine and farm collectivization and the country was governed by his thoughts in a " little red book ".  The " Cultural revolution " galvanised the country when the Red Guards ran amok and tried to impose the rejection of any form of intellectual life.  Social leaders were banished to agriculture to cure them of " revisionist thoughts ".

Then came the Deng era.  " Getting rich was glorious " and China adopted a capitalist  system that saw it become the workshop of the world.  Corruption was inevitable and it seemed that a new China was emerging when Xi Jinping took control and began to gather his powers.  His future plans for China are unclear, but his new China is adopting control measures that hark back to the Mao era.

The rich in China eyed their Communist state nervously.  There was an outflow when they used their money to  create a bolt hole for their families in Australia, Canada, other parts of the world where they believed they were insulated from the oppressive hand of Xi Jinping.   They are now finding that hand has a very long reach.

Former Bank official  Lai Mingmin (67) migrated to Sydney and lived here for seventeen years before returning to China to face corruption charges in June.  State media reported his return and that he had voluntarily refunded a bribe.

There is speculation that Lai Mingmin was coerced into making that return decision by the actions of the office of  Chinas Central Commission of Discipline Inspection ( CCDI ).  This organization is noted for putting pressure on members of the Chinese overseas community.

It seems that Lai's wife and daughter took a trip to China  and CCDI targeted them and they were indoctrinated with impassioned  details of Chinas laws and policies.  It is not hard to envisage the type of decision forced on this man with his wife and daughter now under the control of the CCDI and their return to Australia in question.

It delivers a clear warning to people who are ethnically Chinese and now live in Australia with citizenship rights.  Close relatives still living in China can be used to put pressure on them to return if the Communist state wants to press corruption charges.  They and their families would need to be very wary about visiting mainland China or any state where Chinese influence is strong.  They should be very careful in voicing criticism on Chinese matters.

Theoretically Australian passport holders are protected by the rights it implies but once under the national law that applies when they set foot on Chinese territory all sorts of local laws can come into play to delay a return from that country.

Chinese Australian citizens with issues within China would be well advised to ensure that China is not a holiday destination for them or members of their family.