With so much attention on the Chinese Communist Party’s infiltration of the NSW branch of the Labor Party (think Sam Dastyari), few have noticed the quiet campaign to influence the Victorian Labor government.

That influence campaign has now paid off, with Premier Daniel Andrews last week announcing that Victoria has signed up to Beijing’s massive overseas investment program known as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Illustration: Matt Davidson Credit:

This was despite the federal government’s decision early in 2017 to reject Beijing’s entreaties and refuse to sign it. Canberra understood the initiative has a deep strategic objective – to render those drawn into it economically dependent and supine in the face of the Communist Party’s overseas ambitions.

While the Andrews government cannot see beyond the promised investment bonanza, more sober observers around the world are warning the BRI represents a “full-spectrum grand strategy for China”.