National’s Chinese MP lashes out at smear campaign
Wellington: Jian Yang, the National party’s sole Chinese MP, says he is the victim of a racist smear campaign. A story on the Newsroom website has raised questions about the two-term MP’s involvement with Chinese military and intelligence. It focused on the years Dr Yang spent at educational institutions run by the People’s Liberation Army and the Chinese equivalent of America’s National Security Agency. In a written statement, Dr Yang said he rejected “any allegations that question my loyalty to New Zealand”.
“I have been nothing but upfront and transparent about my education and employment. Although I was not born here, I am proud to call myself a New Zealander, obey our laws, and contribute to this country.”
He said the claims amounted to a smear campaign “by nameless people who are out to damage me and the National Party 10 days from an election, just because I am Chinese”.
PM says Dr Yang upfront about military training
National Party leader Bill English said he did not think Dr Yang was a spy. He said Dr Yang has never tried to hide the fact he has had military training, including intelligence training, in China. “He became a candidate in the 2011 election. The National Party advise me he was quite upfront about his background there.
“Look, I haven’t delved in to all the details of his CV, I assume a lot of people in China are members of the Communist Party - it wouldn’t surprise me - and if he went to military establishment - I presume it was run by the [People’s Liberation Army].” Mr English refused to say whether New Zealand security services had raised any concerns about Dr Yang, saying it was an operational matter.
“What I can say is the law applies to everybody including MPs and the job of the intelligence agencies is to protect our national security.”
And he defended his MP.
“I think we need to be careful here. Dr Yang is a New Zealand citizen. The country is happy to have him as a citizen. And he is eligible to sit in the Parliament. And until today, with these assertions, no one has questioned his loyalty in his activities as an MP.”