In reference to the interview with the Robert Strayer, US State Department official in charge of Cyber Security – tvnz.co.nz

‘America’s top cyber diplomat says the United States will reassess how it shares information with New Zealand if Chinese company Huawei is allowed to upgrade mobile networks to 5G in this country”, it is unlikely this would result in New Zealand being blacklisted by the US with regard intelligence, especially given NZ operates a number of sites used in the collection of intelligence for the US and that NZ is of strategic importance to the US. This is even more so now that China has started positioning itself in the Pacific region in an attempt to be able to influence how the likes of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island nations do business.

Make no mistake, China is a threat to our way of life. China plays the long game, positioning it’s peoples into countries and places (such as educational facilities, security firms, technology, construction, dairy etc) where over time they become accepted and trusted, while all the while providing intelligence, buying businesses and stealing intellectual property for the PLA. China has a distinct advantage over most other countries when it comes to trade, as businesses are government owned or supported and required to adhere to the Policies of it’s dictators, with the government subsidizing those businesses to compete with the west. They may operate like a business, but the end goal is to be in control, and when challenged like they have been by the US they then cry foul.

The US dropped the ball, allowing China to move south taking control of the Spratly Islands (with some are militarized) and for the most part the China sea trade routes, moving into the Pacific and providing donations and funding to educational institutes and pacific nations. As a result, China has a significant presence in Australia and New Zealand, and is trying to influence how our way of life is lived through subtleties. Sponsor a University here, park up a Chinese Police car in a street to intimidate those who are Chinese and speak out about China, detain objectors only for them to disappear.

Huawei is a state sponsored business, and is well known in the intelligence community as untrustworthy. Regardless of any threat by the US, it is important that New Zealand, the UK, Canada and Australia stand by the US in not bowing down to China. It’s bad enough that this government is allowing China to purchase much of New Zealand’s food supply businesses. If this is allowed to continue New Zealand will be reliant on China for it’s food, food produced in New Zealand but owned by China. 

New Zealanders are naive, and this is also evident in the current government and its inability to be decisive in banning Huawei, preventing Chinese buying businesses and also challenging China’s human rights abuses, all so they can secure trade deals and invite Chinese students to our educational institutions.

TRAVEL TIPS:

Going to China,  they’ll know all about you before you even step foot off the plane.

• Watch what you post on social media
• Don’t take a personal phone, take a dumb phone for voice and text only.
• Use an old style camera or a smart phone (if you must) without a SIM installed for taking photo’s.
• Never leave your tech in the hotel room or hotel safe, as these will be imaged and malware installed without you knowing.
• Never use Hotel WiFi (man in the middle) or Airport charging points in China
• Do not speak negatively of China while there, even in your room as they do not respect privacy like New Zealand and will likely be listening.
• Know where the nearest Embassy or Consulate is should you need assistance.
• Maintain situational awareness of your surroundings at all times

 

Posted on: September 3, 2019, by : Mark