In Sydney’s Bennelong, where Chinese Australians make up a large share of the electorate, the fight for votes is playing out on unexpected turf: Xiaohongshu.
Labor MP Jerome Laxale, who narrowly won the seat in 2022, has taken to the Chinese lifestyle app—also known as RedNote—distributing 30,000 Lunar New Year red envelopes with QR codes linking to his account. “If you want to connect with voters, you need to be where they are,” he says.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose approval ratings have slipped ahead of the May 3 election, is betting on holding seats like Bennelong. But with inflation biting and economic growth sluggish, it may not be enough.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, hoping to regain ground lost during Scott Morrison’s confrontations with Beijing, is also courting Chinese Australians, particularly in seats like Victoria’s Chisholm and Menzies. These are areas where the Chinese-Australian vote swung heavily against the Liberals in 2022.
Apps like WeChat and Xiaohongshu are now campaign tools. At least 21 politicians have joined Xiaohongshu, despite mild security concerns. Some, like Liberal MP Keith Wolahan, boast more followers there than on X or TikTok. Xiaohongshu itself appears to throttle political content, but QR-code strategies are keeping candidates visible.
Beyond geopolitics, it’s bread-and-butter issues that may determine the swing. Chinese-Australian small business owners are sensitive to rising interest rates, housing costs, and taxation. Labor points to restored China trade ties. Liberals promise economic relief and support for enterprise.
For voters like mortgage broker Frank Guo in Bennelong, it's a close call. “I voted Labor last time because of the anti-China talk,” he said. “But this time, I may go back to the Liberals—they speak to my class.”
U.S. President Donald Trump hopes for the signing of a long-awaited peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which could mark a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official said.
China has escalated its control over vital mineral exports in retaliation to U.S. tariffs, intensifying global supply chain fears as it tightens curbs on rare earths, battery metals, and strategic technologies critical for defence and green energy.
Moldova is interested in importing natural gas from Azerbaijan to diversify its energy sources and enhance national energy security, the country’s energy minister said in Baku.
The European Commission is challenging Italy's use of "golden powers" in the banking sector, raising concerns over potential breaches of EU law and prompting a broader debate on investment screening rules across the bloc.
Türkiye is committed to advancing the Southern Gas Corridor and supporting regional cooperation on green energy, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have partnered with regional banks to launch a clean energy project connecting Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea.
The first Central Asia-EU Summit has strengthened regional ties, focusing on cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, energy, and climate change. Leaders committed to supporting stability and development, with significant investments planned for infrastructure and sustainability.
U.S. President Donald Trump hopes for the signing of a long-awaited peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which could mark a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official said.
China has escalated its control over vital mineral exports in retaliation to U.S. tariffs, intensifying global supply chain fears as it tightens curbs on rare earths, battery metals, and strategic technologies critical for defence and green energy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that the sweeping new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump do not breach the alliance’s treaties, including the provision encouraging economic collaboration among member nations.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The inaugural Samarkand International Climate Forum will kick off on 4th April at the Silk Road Samarkand Congress Center in Uzbekistan. The high-profile forum will be held under the theme "Central Asia Facing Global Climate Challenges: Consolidation for Shared Prosperity."
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have partnered with regional banks to launch a clean energy project connecting Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea.
The first Central Asia-EU Summit has strengthened regional ties, focusing on cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, energy, and climate change. Leaders committed to supporting stability and development, with significant investments planned for infrastructure and sustainability.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that the sweeping new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump do not breach the alliance’s treaties, including the provision encouraging economic collaboration among member nations.
Türkiye is committed to advancing the Southern Gas Corridor and supporting regional cooperation on green energy, Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.
The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met on Thursday in Brussels to discuss a trilateral cooperation at strengthening the security of their countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have partnered with regional banks to launch a clean energy project connecting Central Asia to Europe via the Caspian Sea.
The first Central Asia-EU Summit has strengthened regional ties, focusing on cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade, energy, and climate change. Leaders committed to supporting stability and development, with significant investments planned for infrastructure and sustainability.
U.S. President Donald Trump hopes for the signing of a long-awaited peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which could mark a new era of stability in the South Caucasus, a senior U.S. official said.
China has escalated its control over vital mineral exports in retaliation to U.S. tariffs, intensifying global supply chain fears as it tightens curbs on rare earths, battery metals, and strategic technologies critical for defence and green energy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Friday that the sweeping new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump do not breach the alliance’s treaties, including the provision encouraging economic collaboration among member nations.
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