Australian spy agency spars with China over foreign interference claim

China's ambassador to Australia has sharply criticized the nation's domestic spy agency, warning that allegations of foreign interference risk harming Sino-Australian relations.

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casting aspersions

Ambassador Xiao Qian took aim at the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) after a video was shown before a speech by its Director-General, Mike Burgess. Xiao claimed the video "cast aspersions" on China, prompting a strong rebuke from ASIO.

In an opinion piece, the ambassador also attacked a joint statement from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, comprising Australia, the UK, US, Canada, and New Zealand, regarding the risks posed by Chinese intelligence services using platforms like LinkedIn to recruit individuals. Xiao dismissed the statement as "slanderous" and asserted it "failed to find (or fabricate) any substantive evidence."

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slanderous

ASIO responded forcefully to the ambassador's criticisms. A spokeswoman pointed to court convictions as evidence of foreign interference, including a Melbourne man found guilty of attempting to interfere in Australia's political system to advance the interests of the Chinese Communist Party, and a Sydney man convicted of providing Chinese spies with information on Australia's economic, defense, and political priorities.

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failed to find (or fabricate) any substantive evidence

During Burgess's annual threat assessment speech in Canberra, which did not mention China, Ambassador Xiao was present in the audience. However, a pre-speech video touched upon issues of Chinese foreign interference, including the arrest of two Chinese nationals accused of spying on a Canberra Buddhist association. Xiao specifically questioned the harm caused by broadcasting such information while cases are still pending and facts are not yet established.

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Noting the Ambassador advocates the application of the rule of law, we point you to: the conviction of a Melbourne man for attempting to interfere in Australia's political system to advance the interests of the Chinese Communist Party, [And] the conviction of a Sydney man who gave Chinese spies information on Australia's economic, defence and political priorities.