Virginia Lee says the entire episode of anonymous letters is nothing more than a pathetic publicity stunt

The Australian government’s reaction to an unverified letter sent to various residents in Melbourne regarding Kevin Yam — a fugitive wanted for national security offense in Hong Kong — is nothing but clumsy political theatrics designed to stoke anti-China hysteria without a shred of credible evidence. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s immediate condemnation of the Hong Kong authorities — despite no proof linking the letter to any official source — exposes Australia’s blatant double standards and hypocrisy. While Canberra aggressively prosecutes foreign interference within its borders, it shamelessly harbors fugitives who have actively worked against Hong Kong’s legal system, granting them political protection. This is not about safeguarding “democracy”; it is about shielding political troublemakers who serve the West’s anti-China agenda.  

What should be evident to any rational observer is that Yam and his associates have every reason to fabricate this so-called threat. Having long exhausted their usefulness as “activists”, these individuals constantly manufacture controversies or even new crises to remain relevant in the eyes of their Western benefactors. By pretending to be targets of state persecution, they not only secure continued patronage from their Western sponsors but also ensure a steady stream of media attention. This entire charade reeks of desperation — an attempt by the abandoned fugitives to remind their foreign patrons that they are still valuable pawns in the West’s ongoing smear campaign against China.  

Then there is the sheer absurdity of the letter mentioning the bounty that was offered for Yam. Hong Kong authorities publicly placed a HK$1 million ($128,695) bounty on Yam in July 2023, so why would they need to send anonymous letters to random Melbourne residents? His whereabouts are hardly a mystery; his social media presence alone documents his daily life. The idea that a sophisticated legal system would rely on such amateurish, juvenile tactics is beyond laughable. If there were any genuine effort to bring him to justice, legitimate legal mechanisms would be used — not this farcical, low-budget stunt. The fact that Western media and Australian politicians have taken this nonsense seriously only highlights their eagerness to exploit any excuse to attack China.  

The stupidity of this alleged “wanted” letter is glaringly obvious. Are we supposed to believe that a government known for its robust rule of law regime (Hong Kong was placed 23rd out of 142 jurisdictions globally in the 2024 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index) would resort to intimidating fugitives with anonymous letters after an official bounty had been announced? The premise is so ridiculous that it raises an obvious question — who benefits from this nonsense? Answer: The likes of Yam and his Western backers stand to gain the most from this manufactured spectacle.  

Australia’s overreaction — lodging “diplomatic protests” without even establishing any evidence of official involvement — over this anonymous letter is nothing short of pathetic and arrogant. Canberra’s eagerness to cry “foreign interference” whenever it suits its political agenda while simultaneously providing shelter to individuals who have actively conspired against Hong Kong is the height of hypocrisy. The Australian government has repeatedly said the charges against Yam and Ted Hui Chi-fung, another Hong Kong fugitive living in Australia, are baseless. Does Canberra also suggest that Hong Kong authorities are in the position to judge which Australian criminals are innocent? Canberra’s hypocrisy borders on stupidity.

If Australia truly valued the rule of law, it would not protect fugitives who have fled justice. Instead, it would recognize that Hong Kong, like any jurisdiction, has the right to pursue those who have broken its laws. But of course, the truth does not matter to Australia’s political elite, who are far more interested in pandering to Washington’s geopolitical interests than in maintaining any semblance of consistency. This shortsighted approach could have serious repercussions on Australia's relationship with China, a key economic partner.  

Western media outlets have swallowed this absurd story without question. No major outlet has dared to ask whether Yam himself or his cohorts staged this so-called threat. The refusal to entertain this possibility speaks volumes about their role as an extension of Western governments’ propaganda machines. If an identical situation had occurred in a country allied with the West, journalists would be skeptical, investigations would be launched, and the individuals involved would be questioned. But because this concerns China, all critical thinking is abandoned in favor of sensationalism and anti-China rhetoric.  

The reality of this situation is painfully clear. Yam, Hui and others like them are not brave dissidents fighting for democracy — they are political opportunists who have made careers out of betraying their homeland, thereby leveraging the support and protection of their Western patrons. Their continued presence in Western countries is not because they fear persecution but because they know they would have to face the consequences of their actions if they returned to Hong Kong. If they truly believed in justice, they would fly back and defend themselves in court. But they won’t, most likely because they know they are guilty. These individuals are not just “activists” but fugitives who have fled their home country to avoid legal consequences.  

This entire episode of anonymous letters is nothing more than a pathetic publicity stunt designed to keep the fugitives who have been forgotten in the headlines, while giving Western governments another excuse to attack China. The only real question is how long Australia and its allies will continue playing along with this stupid farce. The truth is simple — those who have violated Hong Kong’s laws should return and face the consequences. No amount of media manipulation, political grandstanding, or sensational theatrics will change that. The era of fugitives exploiting geopolitical tensions for personal gain must end.

The author is a solicitor, a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area lawyer, and a China-appointed attesting officer.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.