China’s ambassador, ASIO trade barbs over foreign interference allegations
China’s ambassador to Australia has launched a stunning attack on the country’s intelligence agency, accusing it of fabricating allegations of Chinese spying and foreign interference.
In an opinion piece submitted to The Sydney Morning Herald, Xiao Qian levelled claims of misinformation against “Australian organisations and media outlets”, alleging ASIO was guilty of spreading such claims in a video before the annual threat assessment shared by ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess.
Xiao Qian insisted claims of foreign interference by China were "fallacies" and "falsehoods". Alex Ellinghausen
In the opinion piece, which was shared but not officially published on The Herald, Qian claimed some people or organisations wished to undermine the relationship between Australia and China.
“Certain Australian organisations and media outlets have repeatedly fabricated and hyped falsehoods and fallacies regarding the security threat posed by China,” he said.
“Although these allegations have never been substantiated, and not a single perpetrator has been held accountable.
Alexander Csergo was found guilty of acting as a source for China's Ministry of State Security. Sitthixay Ditthavong
“China itself has long suffered from foreign interference and has no intention of, nor has it ever engaged in, so-called interference in Australia.”
Qian claimed the video could jeopardise legal proceedings currently underway surrounding national security, asking: “What harm will the broadcasting of such an official video cause to the individuals concerned?”
According to The Herald, the video included footage of Chinese Nationals who appeared at the ACT Magistrates Court earlier this year after allegedly covertly gathering information on a Buddhist group to send back to China.
The video also included footage of Australian businessman Alexander Csergo, who was convicted of reckless foreign interference after compiling reports for two suspected Chinese spies.
Qian bristled at suggestions raised by Australia and other Five Eyes nations that China was using LinkedIn as a platform to try to recruit foreign nationals to hand over sensitive political and military information, claiming there was no evidence to support the allegations.
“[They] failed to find (or fabricate) any substantive evidence on a serious matter concerning major-power relations and regional peace, instead concocting a sensational charge against another nation out of thin air,” Qian claimed.
ASIO director general Mike Burgess has warned of the threat China poses in the espionage world. Alex Ellinghausen
He charged Australia with viewing its relationship with China through the “lens of a Cold War mentality”, using it to portray China as an enemy.
Qian’s claims were met with a curt response from Australia’s national intelligence agency, which referenced two cases where individuals were found guilty
“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,” an ASIO spokeswoman told nine.com.au in a statement.
Justin Bassi called Qian's comments "propaganda". Dominic Lorrimer
The ambassador was also criticised by Justin Bassi of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a think tank partly funded by the Australian Department of Defence.
“The article should not be ignored but called out for what it is: a foreign government’s propaganda based on mistruths & an attempt to use our free media to censor Australians,” he said on X.
ASIO and Burgess have been sounding the alarm of the threat of Chinese espionage, last year alleging two Chinese hacking groups had been conducting operations impacting Australia at a cost of $12.5 billion.
These were rebuffed by China’s foreign ministry.
“The Australian official you mentioned has repeatedly hurled attacks at China, spread disinformation and deliberately sowed division and confrontation,” a spokesperson for the ministry, Guo Jiakun, said in November.
“It’s hoped that the Australian official can stop making irresponsible statements.”
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