While the United States is handling allegations of Russian influence in the 2016 election, Australia is facing its own concerns about the influence of its biggest trading partner: China.On June 5, a five-month-long joint Four Corners-Fairfax investigation reported that China’s Communist Party had “infiltrated” Australia through millions in political donations and the intimidation of Chinese nationals based in Australia. The revelations led Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to launch a major inquiry into espionage and foreign interference amid concerns that the nation’s sovereignty was at risk.Parliamentarians from both parties have been linked to Chinese donations. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop reportedly had connections to known Liberal donor and Chinese mining magnate Sally Zou, who set up a company called Julie Bishop Glorious Foundation – a company she has denied having knowledge of. Labor Senator Sam Dasytari, meanwhile, was forced to resign from the frontbench early this year over Chinese company Yuhu Group paying his legal and travel bills.China has been trying to dismiss the claims. The Chinese ambassador to Australia reportedly told a business council meeting in the country’s capital that Australia’s media was trying to instigate China panic. Ambassador Cheng Jingye said that ABC and Fairfax Media were trying to “cook up the overnight cold rice”, meaning to repeat allegations that he called “groundless” and “made up from thin air”. The Global Times, a Chinese government-owned outlet, said the claims were “overblown”, “anachronistic” and “unsophisticated” attempts at fear-mongering.Storyful reported on September 16, 2016, that Australian politicians, including Sam Dastyari, were featured in a number of videos on the People’s Daily Online Australia – the Australian branch of another Chinese state-owned newspaper. Credit: Australian Parliament House via Storyful