My godchildren are of Chinese heritage

and their mother is one of my closest friends. We have been through a lot together. 

They do not live in China, indeed they have never been there. It is unlikely they will ever go. Their parents are most unlikely to return there unless the present form of government is overthrown and something much more open and democratic takes its place.

There are still difficulties for my friend and her husband. They are sometimes viewed with suspicion, even by those who know that they left for their own safety. The children have both been bullied and teased at school for being "spies". Teachers have questioned why they cannot speak Chinese. 

I am acutely aware of this and other issues. I have also taught extra English to many students of Chinese origin. One of them was so determined not to return to China she rode her bicycle just over eight kilometres each morning to reach me at seven o'clock for an English lesson before she went to the laboratory. When we first started she knew almost nothing. Two years later she made a short presentation in English at a science conference. At the time her research visa was extended she managed to get her husband and two girls out on a "visitor's visa". They applied for asylum and it was granted. All four of them have worked very, very hard but  it  has also been difficult for them. Some people still view them with suspicion.

All these people have stayed well away from any sort of politics. They have seen it as the wisest thing to do.

But there are several politicians in this country who also have Chinese heritage. It is more difficult to see them as fully independent of any pressure from China. At least two of them have had dealings with organisations that have close connections with the Chinese Communist Party. 

    "People should not be so suspicious," another friend told me. I said this to the mother of my godchildren. She thought about it for a moment and then said,

    "People  should be very suspicious. We need to be constantly vigilant." 

Her view is that the CCP is so powerful it can coerce and control almost anyone. Both she and her husband are concerned about a local politician who has had close contact with organisations which are suspected to be ultimately controlled by the CCP. That same politician was due to be voted into a position of considerable power in the state parliament. Someone else stepped in to prevent it and is now facing expulsion from the party. 

   "It would be better for them to investigate the claims about those contacts," I was told.

That came from someone with a much more direct understanding of what can happen. I think we should be listening before the dragon breathes more fire.