China's Trojan Horse: The Risks of Foreign Investment in Aussie Infrastructure

29/11/2025 3 min
China's Trojan Horse: The Risks of Foreign Investment in Aussie Infrastructure

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Episode Synopsis

Peter Jennings BioSnap a weekly updated Biography.Peter Jennings, the Director of Strategic Analysis at the Institute of Public Affairs, has been actively engaged in public discourse on Australia's national security concerns over the past few days. On November 24th, he appeared on the radio program Mornings with Graeme Goodings on fiveAA to discuss the implications of Chinese investment in Australian critical infrastructure. During this interview, Jennings expressed significant concern about a 120 million dollar battery project in South Australia being funded through the government's capacity investment scheme, highlighting that the involvement of Chinese state-owned energy companies poses potential national security risks.Jennings drew explicit parallels between the current battery project situation and the controversial Huawei 5G saga from years past, warning that Chinese companies operating in Australia remain subject to Chinese Communist Party control through national security laws in Beijing. He emphasized that all Chinese companies and individuals are obligated to cooperate with Chinese intelligence services when required, raising questions about grid security and potential interference from foreign intelligence operations. The analyst stressed that this issue extends beyond a single project, noting that Chinese industry continues gaining deeper access into Australia's vital critical infrastructure across multiple sectors.When questioned about whether concerns represented overreaction or paranoia, Jennings pushed back firmly, characterizing the issue as realistic rather than alarmist. He advocated for Australian governments to consider Chinese investments through a national security lens rather than purely economic terms, arguing that low prices shouldn't override strategic considerations. Jennings also provided context on China's Belt and Road Initiative, describing it as a global project designed to advance Chinese economic interests while creating dependencies in recipient nations.On November 25th, Jennings delivered a lecture at the Royal United Service Institute of New South Wales monthly lecture titled "2025 The Year in Review," continuing his engagement with defense and security policy discussions.Throughout these recent appearances, Jennings has maintained a consistent message: Australia must abandon naivety regarding Chinese investment and strategic intentions, recognizing that military security is inextricably linked to economic security. His commentary reflects ongoing institutional focus from the Institute of Public Affairs on Australia's defense posture and critical infrastructure protection, positioning him as a prominent voice in contemporary Australian national security debates.Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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