UTS:ACRI - In conversation with Cheng Lei and Nick Coyle

During People’s Republic of China (PRC) Premier Li Qiang’s recent visit to Australia, business-to-business and people-to-people ties were the focus.
A statement on joint outcomes of the Australia-China Annual Leaders’ Meeting emphasised the role these links played in deepening the bilateral relationship and a commitment was made to continue to expand them. In his welcome address at an official luncheon for Premier Li at Parliament House, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese particularly singled out the role of Chinese-Australian communities as ‘a powerhouse of innovation, creativity and drive’.
Yet the experience of recent years has shown that stable political ties cannot be taken for granted, and that when these sour it can have devastating consequences for individuals, families and companies.
The divide is also playing out with pressures on Chinese communities in Australia.
Sky News Australia journalist Cheng Lei experienced this first-hand, spending more than three years imprisoned by PRC authorities. She was freed in October last year and continues to navigate the aftermath. At the same time as seeking her release, Ms Cheng’s partner, Nick Coyle, was CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Beijing and witnessed first-hand the impact of disruptive trade measures the PRC had imposed targeting Australian goods.
With the geopolitical divide between the PRC and the West growing, what are the implications for people-to-people ties and business exchanges? How can the broader Australian community best support the unique contribution that Chinese diaspora communities play in helping to build bridges between the two nations? In an Australian public debate around the PRC often broadcast in black and white, is there any scope for shades of grey?
The Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS:ACRI) welcomed Cheng Lei and Nick Coyle to discuss these questions and more in conversation with Glenda Korporaal, UTS:ACRI Adjunct Industry Fellow and columnist for The Australian. The discussion was followed by audience Q&A.