As a war of words between the federal government and opposition over Australia's relationship with China escalates, Annie says she worries her personal safety could be threatened.
Originally from Beijing, Annie lives in the electorate of Chisholm in Melbourne — a key marginal seat with a high population of Chinese-born residents — and said Australia-China relations were a key election issue for her.
"[That is] because it could affect my personal safety here in Australia," said Annie, who does not want her surname published.
Australians of Asian heritage have reported an increase in racialised attacks during the pandemic.
A November 2020 study from the Australian National University found 84.5 per cent of Asian Australians surveyed had experienced at least one incident of discrimination between January and October of that year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week in parliament called deputy Labor leader Richard Marles a "Manchurian candidate", alluding to a 1959 spy novel where an American is brainwashed to launch a communist plot in the United States.
The Prime Minister referred to a speech Mr Marles made at Beijing Foreign Studies University in 2019 in which the Labor frontbencher called for closer military ties.
Mr Morrison later withdrew the comment.
Labor has accused the Coalition of undermining longstanding bipartisanship on issues of national security and Mr Morrison of "creating division for his own political purposes".
Defence Minister Peter Dutton had earlier said Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was the Chinese Communist Party's preferred candidate for prime minister.
Shadow home affairs minister Kristina Keneally called Mr Dutton's comments "divisive and dangerous".
The ABC approached Liberal MP Gladys Liu, who represents Chisholm, but she declined to comment.
Politicians accused of 'games to gain votes'
Australia's Racial Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan expressed concern over the "ongoing impact of racism and discrimination" against the Chinese Australian community.
"All Australians including our leaders must ensure we are careful with our language and actions and the impact they may have on our community," he said.
"Any debates over Australia's foreign policy must ensure a clear separation of issues of national interest and security from narratives that may result in demonisation or vilification of particular Australian communities."
Lawrence Li, who owns a construction business in Sydney, said he was not worried about debates over foreign interference, but said a distinction should be made between the Chinese Communist Party and Chinese people.
"It will affect Australian Chinese more, especially if they can't speak English very well, and they're more vulnerable."
Annie said she believed many Australians could "see through the politicians' games to gain votes in the upcoming election".
"But Chinese Australians might be ridiculed unjustly, particularly community leaders and politicians with Chinese heritage," she said.
"They can be easy targets."
ASIO says foreign governments can't influence outcome of election
The ethnic Chinese community is one of Australia's largest migrant groups, consisting of people from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and other South-East Asian countries.
Relations between Canberra and Beijing have deteriorated dramatically in recent years, particularly in light of Australia's criticism of China's human rights record and calls for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
Spy agency ASIO said last week it had foiled an attempt by a businessman with ties to China to fund New South Wales Labor candidates in the forthcoming federal election.
Still, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess told 7.30 that politicisation of national security was "not helpful" to the work of Australian intelligence agencies.
Mr Burgess said that while some actors may seek to interfere in Australia's election, "we don't believe that a foreign government could actually change the outcome of our election".
"Of course, we do see foreign interference attempts to influence candidates and influence members of parliament … [but] I'm very confident that the vast majority of politicians that we deal with are actually thoroughly resistant to that type of foreign interference," Mr Burgess added.
Jennifer Hsu, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute, said the current tone of debate over China could see Chinese Australians disengage from the political process.
A Lowy poll from 2021 showed that 44 per cent of Chinese Australians believed too much attention was being paid to foreign interference by politicians.
Ms Hsu also said inflammatory rhetoric from the government could further damage the relationship with China.
"I don't think the relationship will improve in the next few months, or [politicians] will seek to improve it," she said.
"I can't see any improvement in the short-term future."
For Melody Ye, a finance worker who moved to Australia from China at age nine, the Australia-China relationship is not a priority in the upcoming election.
"As to Australia-China relations, it has not directly impacted on my life and work. So, it is low on my radar."
"However, to be honest, better Australia-China relations would help the Australian economy to grow. It is all interlinked," Ms Ye added.
Sue Shi owns a small business in Box Hill, an eastern suburb in Melbourne with a large Chinese migrant population.
The certified practising accountant migrated from China more than 30 years ago and agreed everyday people in the community cared more about the economy.
She said many of her clients were small business owners and they were under enormous stress.
"On one hand, their costs are rising and on the other hand, demand is flat," she said.
"We really need a wiser statesman to lead the country out of this."
