• About Us
  • Careers
  • Brand Partnerships
TFI Official Merchandise
TFI English
TFI हिन्दी
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
Right Arm. Round the World. FAST.
No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean
TFIGlobal
TFIGlobal
No Result
View All Result

How China took over an Australian island without Australia even knowing

Akshay Narang by Akshay Narang
November 17, 2020
in Indo-Pacific
Reading Time: 3 mins read
2
Xi Jinping, China, Australia, Keswick Island,
870
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

China is simply trying to take over Australia and with the passage of time, shocking examples of increasing Chinese influence down under keep getting exposed. Take, for instance, Keswick Island, located off the coast of Mackay. This island is a tropical paradise with secluded bays and crystal-blue water. Keswick Island is a perfect holiday destination, blessed with a rich turtle habitat.

But things have changed in this tropical habitat now. According to The Courier Mail, In April last year, a Chinese developer, China Bloom Pty Ltd. was handed a long-term lease of the island by the Queensland government. The paper Dragon is believed to have paid millions of Dollars to the previous owner for a 99-year lease of the island. 80 years of the lease are still remaining. Anyhow, life on the island is not the same ever since the Chinese developer took over.

Also Read

Mexico Is Making a Killing Out of the West-China Tussle

Germany hard core PR strategies for China put to work in Africa

The corporate structure on the island has undergone a drastic change now. China Bloom has the head lease over the residential and commercial precincts of Keswick Island. And the local residents? Well, they are nothing more than mere sub-lessees. Now, it is not very difficult to understand how Chinese interests would treat a sub-lessee.

ABC News quoted homeowners Rayna and James Asbury as saying that they were worried about the island’s future. Ms Asbury said, “To live here is a real challenge now for people.” She added, “Although you’re in paradise, you’re stuck.”

Locals aren’t getting paranoid over nothing. Major changes have happened on the island ever since China Bloom took over. The shoreline has been excavated, access to parts of the National Park prohibited and ‘keep out’ signs erected around the island. The Chinese developer’s conduct is raising genuine doubts about its intentions.

Excavations are, in particular, risky for Keswick’s turtle habitat. Honorary Associate Professor Dr David Booth from the University of Queensland said it was difficult to assess the environmental damage due to lack of data. “Typically, the sea turtles might have targeted that dune to lay their eggs or concentrated along there,” he added. Booth also said, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for developers to go ahead and do things like that without getting appropriate permits because they are altering the beach line, and beaches are actually public property.”

But then turtles are not the only ones at risk in Keswick. Whistleblowers say that residents are being denied the opportunity to use their homes as AirBnBs, small businesses are also not being allowed to operate, visitors are getting harassed and even long-term renters of Aboriginal descent are being asked to shell out $100,000 bonds if they want to purchase a home on this island.

As per couriermail, locals say that access to all private and commercial aircraft and some helicopter services is being denied on the island. A helicopter round trip costs as much as $2,400- making travel to the island more expensive than a trip to Paris. The latest activities could thus be driving tourism away from the island, and also isolating Keswick residents.

For natural reasons, property prices on the island too have slumped. Real estate agent and resident Karen Cooke said, “Houses have been built for say $800,000. They’re going under contract for just under $200,000 and less.” The fear among the locals is that the Chinese are “trying to push us out and develop the island exclusively for rich Chinese’’.

The Keswick episode is grotesque enough to sound unreal. It is a major strategic problem for the security situation of the country. But then Australia is full of such examples from the Darwin port lease to Victoria BRI. Chinese influence in Keswick Island once again proves why Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s anti-China tirade is worth it. Canberra must put up a spirited fight to throw Beijing out of its system.

Tags: AustraliaChinaKeswick IslandXi Jinping
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

Russia has not pulled back or backstabbed Armenia. Rather it has played Azerbaijan and Turkey in a big way

Next Post

Trump and Modi killed RCEP even before it was born and Biden will have no choice but to follow suit

Also Read

Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

February 5, 2023
EU Xinjiang

EU’s malicious encashment of forced labour is a revelation of its true evil face

February 4, 2023
China Children

China comes up with a bizarre idea to overcome demographic challenges

February 1, 2023
Czech Republic Taiwan

Taiwan friends a new ally in the Balkans

February 1, 2023
Load More

Comments 2

  1. Avatar June says:
    2 years ago

    our GREEDY polititians has to be EXPOSED AND STOPPED from SELLING off our great country. Hitler went to war to satisfy his greed for power and all China has to do is to buy us all up, We can stop them now with commonsence tacticts or we could find ourselves fighting another world war. In his last moments Hitler stated that he would be followed the slow methodical stepsof the EAST meaning CHINA. I rest my case.

    Reply
  2. Avatar John says:
    10 months ago

    There are only a handful of people with power in China that are not satisfied with what they have… so they use people and money as tools to obtain more power, this will come at a lost of lives of innocent people and of our planet… and still they will not be satisfied…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms of use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
US Ukraine

Russia unearths USA’s empire of terror in Ukraine

February 4, 2023
Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

Mongolia’s biggest shock to China is here

February 5, 2023
Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation?

Did Ukraine use innocent civilians as human shield against Russia in the name of evacuation?

May 9, 2022
Jordan B Peterson

The proposed demise of World Economic Forum! Courtesy- Jordan B. Peterson

February 2, 2023
Nord Stream US

An energy-secured Germany blames US for Nord Stream sabotage for the first time

February 4, 2023
Philip Davis

Decoding the Reason for the Bahamian Prime Minister’s Death Threats

February 7, 2023
Lithium America

South America finally flexes its Lithium Muscles

February 7, 2023
Trudeau kneels down on Bill C-21 provisions but he needs to prostrate

Trudeau kneels down on Bill C-21 provisions but he needs to prostrate

February 7, 2023
Mexico China

Mexico Is Making a Killing Out of the West-China Tussle

February 7, 2023
Peru protests

There is only one way out for Peru. Fix the constitution

February 7, 2023
Youtube Twitter Facebook
TFIGlobal
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy Policy

©2023 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

No Result
View All Result
  • Premium
  • Indo-Pacific
  • Americas
  • Canada
  • Indian Subcontinent
  • West Asia
  • Europe
  • Africa
  • The Caribbean

©2023 - TFI MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Follow us on Twitter

and never miss an insightful take by the TFIGlobal team

Follow @tfiglobal
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. View our Privacy and Cookie Policy.