MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – A Chinese citizen has been charged under Australia’s foreign interference laws for allegedly covertly collecting information about an Australian Buddhist association, according to local police. The woman, who is an Australian permanent resident living in Canberra, is only the third person to be charged since these laws were enacted in 2018 and the first to be accused of targeting the general population, as stated by Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt.
The charges, presented in a Canberra court, focus on her covert gathering of information regarding a local branch of the Buddhist association known as Guan Yin Citta, which is banned in China. The specific objectives of her actions have not been disclosed by the police. Nutt emphasized that the police allege her activities were intended to support the intelligence objectives of China’s Public Security Bureau, marking a significant escalation in the application of the foreign interference laws.
Nutt elaborated that “foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion.” He noted that these crimes are committed by or on behalf of foreign principals and involve covert and deceptive conduct or threats of serious harm. The woman in question was arrested at her home on Saturday and remains in custody, facing a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. Due to a court order, her identity has not been publicly disclosed.
This woman represents the first foreign national to be charged under the sweeping foreign interference laws that have historically created tensions between Australia and China since their introduction in 2017. In an earlier case involving foreign interference, Vietnamese-born businessman Di Sanh Duong from Melbourne was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison last year for attempting to influence a former Australian government minister on behalf of China. Another individual, Alexander Csergo, a Sydney businessman, has also been charged with accepting payments for information from two suspected Chinese spies; he has pleaded not guilty.
Mike Burgess, the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, has stated that the agency played a significant role in the recent arrest, characterizing the alleged foreign interference as an abhorrent attack on Australian values, freedoms, and sovereignty. His remarks highlight the ongoing concern within Australian intelligence agencies regarding foreign influence in the nation's democratic processes.
The timing of this charge is particularly notable as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese works to repair Australia’s bilateral relations with China, which deteriorated significantly under the previous administration due to concerns over foreign interference and other related issues. Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last month, marking the fourth meeting between the two leaders since the Australian Prime Minister took office in 2022.
The case demonstrates the Australian government's commitment to safeguarding its national interests against foreign interference, particularly in light of the complex geopolitical landscape shaped by rising tensions with China. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how this case may influence Australia's foreign relations and domestic policies moving forward.
