Deep within the tumultuous years of World War II, a significant personal connection was forged that would intertwine the destinies of China, Australia, and the United States. Mark Wangs father, who served in Chinas military intelligence, embarked on a journey from Shanghai to Melbourne, Australia, to meet with U.S. General Douglas MacArthur. In Melbourne, the absence of a functioning Chinese consulate necessitated their discussions to be held in the home of a prominent local businessman, whose family had roots in China dating back to the mid-1830s. Amidst strategizing on how to expel the Axis Powers from China, a romantic spark ignited when Wang's father caught a glimpse of the attractive daughter of his host.

It was love at first sight, recounts Mark Wang, who is now the CEO of the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne. He attributes his very existence to that moment, saying, And thats why Im here! This charming story serves as a microcosm of the complex historical ties that bind Australia, China, and indeed the United States together, reflecting centuries of interaction and mutual influence.

While the Australian continent has been home to Aboriginal peoples for a staggering 65,000 years, European settlers arrived in 1788, paving the way for the first Chinese immigrants just 30 years later. However, the relationship was not always harmonious and was often fraught with tension, as evidenced by the periodic race riots that punctuated this history. The culmination of these racial tensions was encapsulated in the infamous 1901 White Australia Policy, which effectively put a halt to legal migration from Asia to what was then proudly termed the Lucky Country. Following the repeal of this policy in 1975, Chinese immigration has ebbed and flowed, often reflecting the broader socio-political crises affecting both Australia and the world, including the Vietnam War, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and more recently, the crackdown on freedoms in Hong Kong. Today, individuals of Chinese descent constitute approximately 5.5% of Australias population of 26 million.

In a recent interview with TIME, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the significant contributions of the Chinese-Australian community to the nation, stating, They are major contributors to our cultural life, economy, and business in every aspect. As federal elections loom on the upcoming Saturday, the Chinese-Australian demographic may play a pivotal role in determining the outcome. Polling data shows Albaneses center-left Labor Party in a tight contest against the opposition right-leaning Liberal-National Coalition. Observers suggest that the likelihood of a hung parliamentwhere no party secures the 76 seats required for a majorityremains high. Consequently, there has been a noticeable surge in political advertising, with campaigns targeting multicultural constituents through popular Chinese-language applications such as WeChat and Red Note.

From January onward, the RECapture Project identified over 220 authorized Liberal advertisements on WeChat, with approximately 35 from the Labor side. Interestingly, candidates not of Chinese descent have also embraced these platforms, sharing videos of themselves enjoying traditional Chinese dishes such as Sichuan hotpot and bubble tea to connect with voters. Fan Yang, a research fellow at the University of Melbourne and leader of the RECapture initiative, notes that the political content on these platforms is often sophisticated, suggesting a level of strategic tailoring likely involving outside agencies to enhance visibility. She explains, Red Note is known for lifestyle and e-commerce, which means political content is less prioritized by the platform algorithm. One way that politicians navigate the algorithm is by enlisting third-party influencers to boost their online presence. The proximity of constituencies with significant Chinese voter populations to key electoral battles is driving this strategy, particularly in the Labor-held ultra-marginal Sydney seat of Bennelong, where nearly 30% of residents identify as ethnically Chinese and the boundary changes have made it more competitive for the Liberal Party. Liberal candidate Scott Yung has been particularly visible, with over 100 authorized ads since the beginning of the year.

The race is equally fierce in Sydneys Bradfield constituency, which boasts one of the largest populations of ethnically Chinese voters in the nation. Here, both major party candidates, as well as independents, have utilized WeChat ads extensively. The election season has also seen an increase in attack ads aimed at both party leaders, as candidates vie for attention in this crowded electoral landscape.

This active courting of Chinese Australians marks a notable shift from Australias last federal election in 2022, when anti-Chinese sentiment surged amid a significant chill in Sino-Australian relations, aggravated by prejudice linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. A troubling report from the Lowy Institute in 2021 revealed that nearly one in five Chinese Australians had experienced physical threats or attacks in the preceding year. The pandemic exacerbated existing tensions, which had been inflamed since around 2016, following then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's investigation into alleged Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference, leading to the Espionage and Foreign Interference Bill. Following this, numerous politicians, both local and national, were accused of having ties to the Chinese government, further deteriorating trust within the community. The rise of Donald Trump, who campaigned on anti-Chinese rhetoric, was another factor that contributed to the normalization of anti-Asian sentiment.

In October 2020, Liberal senator Eric Abetz ignited controversy by questioning three Chinese Australians before the Senate on whether they would unconditionally condemn the CCP dictatorship. This line of questioning was criticized by one of the participants as a McCarthyist loyalty test. Historical roots of anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia extend to the Gold Rush era, where discriminatory practices such as the imposition of a 10 levy on Chinese immigrants were commonplace. To evade this poll tax, many chose to disembark in South Australia before embarking on a grueling 350-mile trek to Melbourne, which had quickly risen to wealth and prominence during this mining boom. In 2017, Jimmy Li, who presides over the Chinese Community Council of Australia Victoria Chapter (CCCAV), organized a heritage walk to retrace this arduous journey, intending to raise awareness about historical injustices. Li reflects, One of the proudest aspects of Australia is our multiculturalism. People live peacefully together, maintain their cultures while also connecting and working together.

This sentiment resonates widely within the Australian populace. A survey conducted in 2023 indicated that nearly 90% of respondents believed that multiculturalism has been good for Australia. Notably, an internal review by the Liberal Party after their defeat in the 2022 elections highlighted a significant shift among Chinese Australians, who had previously supported the party but moved away due to geopolitical tensions and backlash from the COVID pandemic.

Under Albaneses leadership, there have been signs of rapprochement in bilateral relations, with Dutton moderating his previously hawkish stance. Last year, he expressed, I am pro-China and I support the relationship we have with them. Nevertheless, concerns regarding potential Chinese interference continue to cast a shadow over the forthcoming election. Recently, both Liberal candidate Yung and independent lawmaker Monique Ryan faced allegations regarding their ties to the CCP.

The pivotal issue remains how to see more Chinese Australians involved in the political sphere, rather than merely being courted for votes. While they are active in philanthropy and local governance, representation at the federal level remains inadequate. Yan Ma, a member of the CCCAV committee, notes, Its a work in progress. Politicians from every side of the spectrum who are genuinely invested in multicultural communities are actively seeking to recruit staff from Chinese backgrounds or who speak Chinese. This reflects positive change.