National list MP Jian Yang didn’t disclose all of his Chinese work history in his application for New Zealand citizenship.
NZH: Jian Yang didn’t disclose Chinese intelligence connections in citizenship application
A newly reelected National Party MP said to have been investigated by New Zealand’s intelligence agencies didn’t disclose links to Chinese military intelligence when becoming a citizen, documents show.
Newly unredacted documents from Jian Yang’s 2004 citizenship application show Yang, who moved to New Zealand in 1999, did not list the 15 years he spent studying and working at the People’s Liberation Air Force Engineering Academy and the Luoyang Foreign Languages Institute from 1978. Both institutions are part of China’s military intelligence apparatus.
In his citizenship disclosures, Yang only lists his work and study history at the Australian National University and the University of Auckland.
The citizenship file had been released, following public clamour, the week prior to the election, but heavy redactions – said to protect Yang’s privacy – meant it was impossible to see what, if any, disclosures he had made about spy history in China.
The Herald complained to the Ombudsman about these redactions, forcing a rethink at the Department of Internal Affairs.
A spokesman for the Ombudsman’s office yesterday afternoon said: “DIA have reconsidered its decision to withhold Dr Yang’s answers to the study and work history questions on the citizenship application.”
In a press conference after news of his background broke, Yang said he had served as a civilian officer in the PLA and was required to not to name the institutions as a condition of being allowed to leave China.
He said he was not a spy, but conceded he was involved in training spies to assess intercepted communications.
Yang said he instead referred on applications to “partnership” civilian universities who had a relationship with the military institutions. “It is not that I am deliberately trying to cover-up. It’s because the system asked me to use the partner university,” he said.
At the time Yang denied making false declarations when becoming a citizen – a prerequisite to being able to enter parliament – but said he was reviewing his citizenship application to make sure it was correct.
The Herald say they have filed more OIA requests for information on Yang, but some may prove hard to get.
This week the SIS declined again to answer any questions about Yang, citing national security as a reason for withholding information.
“NZSIS does not comment on specific cases or individuals,” a spokesman for the spy agency said.
“I can neither confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of information.”
The University of Auckland has refused to release information relating to his appointment in 1999 as a senior lecturer in political science, citing Yang’s privacy. This refusal is also the subject to a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Immigration NZ is still considering whether to release information relating to Yang’s residency applications, a precursor to his citizenship.
Is there any cause for concern about what Yang has done as a New Zealand citizen, or as an MP?
Or is it just possible concerns due to his past in China?
Should all immigrants who become citizens and then become MPs be scrutinised?
Perhaps Julie Anne Genter should be investigated just in case she’s working for the CIA.
William Sio could be check out in case he’s a Samoan secret agent.
Or if it’s only Chinese we are concerned about what about Raymond Huo? He’s probably fine but why not be sure?
Perhaps also of interest – why was Jian Yang investigated, who prompted it, and why was his history revealed during an election campaign?
