Chau Chak Wing

Chau Chak Wing (Chinese: 周泽荣; pinyin: Zhōu Zéróng; Jyutping: Zau1 Zaak6wing4; born 1954),[1] is a Chinese-born Australian property developer and billionaire philanthropist known for his business Kingold Group based in Guangzhou, China.[2] He is a citizen of Australia, from Chaozhou, China,[3] and known for the $70 million purchase of the house of James Packer in 2015.[2] He donated $20 million for the construction of the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, part of the University of Technology of Sydney in Sydney, Australia,[4] and another $15 million for the construction of a new museum in the University of Sydney.[5]

Alleged bribery of UN official

Chau Chak Wing was named in an FBI investigation in the case of bribery of the former president of the United Nations General Assembly, John Ashe. The FBI alleged Dr. Chau paid John Ashe $200,000 in November 2013 via Sheri Yan, an Australian-Chinese suspected by ASIO of Chinese intelligence activity, on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.[6] Chau Chak Wing strenuously denied any involvement. In December 2016 he launched a lawsuit against Fairfax Media alleging he had been defamed.[7]

ASIO investigation of Chinese influence and political donations

A joint Four Corners and Fairfax Media investigation claimed that Chau, among others, was the subject of a briefing by ASIO warning of Chinese government influence over the Australian political system.[8] In a follow-up media story in The Australian, Chau said that claims he was an agent of Chinese soft power were "irrational". He said successive governments since the Howard era had sought his help in promoting Australian interests in China, including being asked to lobby for Australia to win a $150 billion LNG deal with China in 2001: "In relation to Australian companies, if Australian businesses needed my assistance for development in China, I have been quietly helping them ... this has been recognised by the Australian government. I have promoted trade, Australia tourism, business and education without seeking personal gain or any favour in return. In fact it has been more a case of exercising Australian soft power in China."[9]

References

  1. ↑ 周泽荣详细资料. Phoenix Television. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 "The billionaire who bought Australia's most expensive home". Financial Review. 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  3. ↑ https://www.thechinastory.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/MediaAustraliaChina2009.pdf
  4. ↑ "Gehry's vision gets NSW government approval". University of Technology. 20 Mar 2012. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  5. ↑ "$15 million donation to create new University of Sydney landmark museum". The University of Sydney. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
  6. ↑ "ASIO warns political parties over foreign donations". ABC Name. ABC News. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  7. ↑ LOUSSIKIAN, Kylar (19 December 2016). "Chinese billionaire Chau Chak Wing sues Fairfax over 'bribes' story". The Australia.
  8. ↑ "ASIO investigation targets Communist Party links to Australian political system". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  9. ↑ "Chinese billionaire hits back at ASIO: I'm not a communist agent". The Australian. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
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