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China's Ambassador Accuses ASIO of Fabricating Spying Claims

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China's Ambassador Accuses ASIO of Fabricating Foreign Interference Claims

Ambassador Xiao Qian publishes opinion piece denying allegations, while Australian officials and experts push back

"China itself has long suffered from foreign interference and has no intention of, nor has it ever engaged in, so-called interference in Australia." — Ambassador Xiao Qian

China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has published an opinion piece accusing ASIO and other Western intelligence agencies of fabricating foreign interference allegations against China. The article was submitted to a media outlet following an ASIO video that referenced ongoing court cases involving Chinese nationals.

Allegations Denied as "Fabricated"

Ambassador Xiao categorically denied that China engages in foreign interference, stating that such allegations have never been substantiated and no perpetrators have ever been held accountable. He criticized the ASIO video for including charges against specific individuals while their cases remain pending, questioning the harm caused by such broadcasting before legal proceedings conclude.

ASIO Defends Its Record

An ASIO spokeswoman pointed to previous convictions as evidence of genuine threats:

  • A Melbourne man convicted for attempting to interfere in Australia's political system
  • A Sydney man who provided information to Chinese spies

Strong Reactions from Australian Officials and Experts

Justin Bassi, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, called the ambassador's article "propaganda" and urged the government to summon him for an official rebuke.

Former Australian Signals Directorate boss Rachel Noble defended ASIO's role in warning Australians about espionage threats, emphasizing the agency's responsibility to protect national security.

Charles Sturt University professor Clive Hamilton commented that Australians would be less concerned if China's government acted less threateningly.

Ongoing Cases and Convictions

The ASIO video referenced two ongoing court cases:

  • Case 1: A 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman charged with reckless foreign interference for allegedly gathering information on a Canberra Buddhist group. Both have pleaded not guilty.

  • Case 2: Businessman Alexander Csergo, found guilty of reckless foreign interference in March.

Previous Convictions

  • In 2024, Di Sanh "Sunny" Duong was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for attempting to influence former minister Alan Tudge to advance Chinese Communist Party interests.

  • A 2023 Senate inquiry found that authoritarian regimes like China deploy cyber-enabled disinformation activities to advance their interests at Australia's expense.