It is concerning to see sensationalism now creeping into mainstream commentary. Consider, for example, the references in Professor Hamilton’s book to "panda huggers", to "dyeing Australia red", to "China’s fifth column in Australia", or to Australia being turned into a "tribute state" by a Chinese "silent invasion".

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Such language flirts with exciting an anti-Chinese or Sinophobic racial sentiment. It recalls old fears about yellow hordes overwhelming a vulnerable white Australia. It all smacks of The Yellow Peril revisited.

At a time when populist energies are running high, and when debates about immigration are being re-opened, we must not create the conditions for the rehearsal of lazy prejudice.

We must avoid a situation where Australian citizens with Chinese heritage are second-guessed about their loyalty and allegiance. Where those from Chinese backgrounds have to work twice or thrice as hard as others before they can even be accepted as Australian. It would diminish our nation if Australians with Chinese heritage retreated from participating in the life of our nation, because they fear being smeared as foreign agents of influence or denounced as members of a Chinese fifth column.

Right now, our society needs more participation from its multicultural population – not less. We do poorly at reflecting our diversity within our public institutions, and within the leadership ranks of our organisations. Any anti-Chinese or Sinophobic sentiment will only make the task of representing diversity even harder.

Some may point to how Chinese-Australians themselves have expressed alarm about the extent of Chinese influence in Australia. That is true. Yet too often there seems only to be selective quotation of Chinese-Australians whose opinions conveniently confirm a "silent invasion".

It’s important that more voices of Chinese-Australians are heard. Those who know anything about the Chinese-Australian population will know it is diverse. It matters whether you are Hong Kong-Chinese, Singaporean-Chinese, Malaysian-Chinese, Taiwanese-Chinese, Lao-Chinese, Cambodian-Chinese or Chinese from '‘the mainland’'.

Yet the sentiment expressed to me by members of Chinese-Australian communities is clear enough. While there are some who have serious concerns about Chinese influence in public life, there are many, many others who hold more serious concerns about the consequences of stoking anti-Chinese prejudices.

The debate about Chinese influence in Australia is an important one about our sovereignty and national interest. But it is also a test of our maturity as a multicultural society. Passing it will require a lot less panic, and a lot more sobriety.