Victor Gao

Victor Zhikai Gao (Chinese: 高志凯; pinyin: Gāo Zhìkǎi; born 1962) is a Chinese lawyer, academic and media spokesman for the Chinese Communist Party. He is the Vice President of the Beijing based Center for China and Globalization (CCG), and Chair Professor of Soochow University. He was formerly a translator for the CCP leader Deng Xiaoping.[1][2][3]

Victor Gao
高志凯
Born
Victor Zhikai Gao

1962 (age 59–60)
NationalityChinese
Alma mater
Organization
Children2

Biography

Gao graduated with a J.D. degree from Yale Law School.[4] He received an M.A. in political science from Yale Graduate School. He graduated with a B.A. and M.A. in English Language and Literature from Soochow University[5] and Beijing University of Foreign Studies respectively.[4]

He is a Director of the China National Association of International Studies[6] and an Executive Director of Beijing Private Equity Association.[7] He is best known for his position as the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping's translator and currently an international expert on Chinese issues.[2] Gao is the vice president of the Center for China and Globalization.[8]

Views

In September 2021 Gao referred to the AUKUS pact as a "gross violation of international law," claimed that "Armed with nuclear submarines, Australia itself will be a target for possible nuclear attacks in the future," and referred to Australians as "brainless."[9] He also warned that Australia's moves towards nuclear-powered submarines would lead to the country "being targeted with nuclear weapons," in a future nuclear war.[10]

Gao repeated his warning to Australia during an interview on 60 Minutes Australia television programme in November 2021: "I would say the AUKUS deal in itself by enabling Australia to build nuclear submarines will have one big consequence for Australia, that is, Australia will no longer enjoy the benefit and the very rare privilege of not being targeted with nuclear weapons going forward."[11]

The interviewer challenged Gao by reminding him that Australia was planning to buy nuclear powered submarines and not nuclear armed submarines, and asked: "Why should Australia then be a target of nuclear weapons?"

Dismissing the distinction, Gao insisted: "Listen to me: the tubes in the submarine can be armed with both nuclear warheads and conventional warheads. Now, in the heat of a battle or in the heat of a war, do you think Australia will allow inspections as to what kind of warhead you put into that big tube? I can bet you, in the heat of battle no one will pause – and the safe approach is to target Australia as a nuclear-armed country.[11]

In October 2021 Gao claimed that most supporters of Taiwanese independence were of Japanese descent.[12]

In February 2022, Gao claimed on the Australian 60 Minutes Australia program that the Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai could not have been raped by a Communist Party official because she was too tall.[13]

References
  1. VIDEO: Victor Gao on Australia’s nuclear submarines deal; abc.net.au, 14 October 2021
  2. "Thought-leader on China & expert on international relations". China global speakers. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  3. "Victor Zhikai Gao. China's Heart Of Gold". BPEA. May 15, 2009. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  4. Congying, Bao, ed. (November 9, 2009). "Victor Gao profile". Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  5. "Alumni Clubs: Entitled Twenty Years After the Cold War, Where is the China-US Relationship Heading?". University of Chicago Center in Beijing. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  6. "China's Rise Series: China's Africa Strategy". asiasociety.org/. May 5, 2008. Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2010.
  7. Li, Yongjing (January 12, 2009). "Victor Z. Gao". crienglish.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  8. Pinghui, Zhuang (August 19, 2020). "US-China relations: nations failing as global leaders, academics say". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  9. Graham, Ben (September 21, 2021). "'Brainless' Australia a target for 'nuclear war', warns top China expert". News.com.au. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  10. Henderson, Gerard (September 25, 2021). "Subs pact makes us a target for nuke attack? Gao figure". The Australian. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  11. Prepare for Armageddon: China's Warning to the World 60 Minutes Australia, November 2021. (video)
  12. Lemaître, Frédéric (October 11, 2021). "La Chine et Taïwan, plus éloignés que jamais". Le Monde.fr. Le Monde. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  13. Why the world is so worried about Peng Shuai, the Chinese tennis champion who went missing for three weeks; 60 Minutes Interview; 9now.nine.com.au; February 2022

Further reading
Biographies
  • Crossman, Jennifer (2011). "Gao, Zhikai (高志凯 b. 1962)". In Zhang, Wenxian; Wang, Huiyao; Alon, Ilan (eds.). Entrepreneurial and Business Elites of China: The Chinese Returnees Who Have Shaped Modern China. Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 40–42. ISBN 978-0-85724-089-7.
Opinion pieces on/by Gao
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