Australian paper apologises for labelling Chinese-Australian businessman Peter Zhuang ‘pro-Beijing’

Daily Mail Australia ran two articles about Zhuang days before he ran in a Queensland state election that he lost

It had used satirical comments Zhuang posted on social media to suggest he was influenced by and supported the Chinese Communist Party

Reading Time:2 minutes

Published: 5:00am, 18 Mar 2021Updated: 5:00am, 18 Mar 2021

A Chinese-Australian businessman who ran for office in the state of Queensland has received an apology over a series of news reports that labelled him “pro-Beijing” and in favour of Chinese expansionism.

Peter Zhuang, a property developer-turned-candidate for the centre-right Liberal National Party, received the apology from Daily Mail Australia.

The news outlet had, days ahead of state elections last October, described Chinese-born Zhuang as a “pro-Beijing” candidate who once posted a message on social media encouraging China to use “suppression” so people around the world could “feel China’s presence”.

Zhuang, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat in suburban Brisbane, had in fact been quoting a Chinese comedian who was discussing Chinese fighters’ domination of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Daily Mail Australia articles had also highlighted concerns about Beijing “covertly pushing its global agenda” in the context of Zhuang attending events with the Chinese ambassador to Australia and a community gathering to mark a PLA Navy ship’s visit to Brisbane.

Zhuang, who is managing director of the BriStar Group, did not respond to a request for comment. In January, he told This Week in Asia he was a “normal businessman” who had no connection to the Chinese Communist Party and the Daily Mail Australia articles about him were “full of lies”.