Media: Australian Intelligence Agency Reveals Instances of Interference, Chinese Ambassador Rebuts

(CNA reporter Chiu Te-chen Sydney, July 2nd) According to an Australian public broadcasting media ABC report yesterday (1st), the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, recently played a video at the "Annual Threat Assessment 2026" press conference that mentioned China's political interference in Australia. In response, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian stated that ASIO's actions could impact bilateral relations. Subsequently, an ASIO official reiterated that Australia continues to face political interference from China.

On June 24th, Burgess played a video at the "Annual Threat Assessment 2026 ASIO" press conference regarding the sources of security threats in Australia. During the playback, media reporters, officials, and other attendees were prohibited from taking photographs. After the conference, media reporters attempted to obtain the video from ASIO but were refused.

The ABC report mentioned that the video primarily focused on issues such as antisemitism, the Bondi terror attack, and the return to Australia of Australian citizens and permanent residents married to Islamic State (ISIS) members. Only a small portion of the content discussed China's threat to Australian security, such as the arrest of two Chinese nationals in February this year, who were accused of working for Chinese security agencies and secretly collecting information on a Buddhist group in Canberra.

The ABC report also stated that Xiao Qian was informed of the video's content several days before Burgess's press conference, and Xiao Qian was present at the conference that day.

In response to the content of ASIO's video, Xiao Qian submitted a rebuttal in an article published by media outlets under the Nine Entertainment Co. Specifically, Melbourne's The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald published Xiao Qian's article yesterday (1st). In his article, he claimed that accusations of China posing a security threat to Australia were unfounded.

Xiao Qian questioned, "The relevant cases are still under trial, and the facts are yet to be ascertained. What harm will the official release of such a video by (Australia) at this time cause to the individuals involved?"

Regarding ASIO's actions, Xiao Qian threatened that they could impact bilateral relations. He wrote, "What message will such one-sided information convey to the Australian public? And what impact will it have on Sino-Australian relations?"

Xiao Qian also claimed, "China itself has long suffered from foreign interference and has neither the intention nor has it ever interfered in Australia's internal affairs."

In response to Xiao Qian's statement, ASIO issued a rebuttal. ABC quoted an unnamed ASIO official as stating that China's political interference in Australia is a fact that has been confirmed by the courts.

The ASIO official cited the case of Di Sanh Duong, who was convicted of violating Australia's "Foreign Interference Act." She said, "The Ambassador always advocates for the rule of law; therefore, we must point out that a Melbourne man who attempted to interfere in Australia's political system for the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party was convicted."

The ASIO official also cited the case of Alexander Csergo, who was convicted of "reckless foreign interference." She said, "A Sydney man was convicted of providing information on important Australian economic, defense, and political matters to a Chinese spy."

The ABC report also mentioned that ASIO and its partner agencies within the "Five Eyes" alliance issued a joint statement in early June, stating that Chinese spies are using professional social networking sites like LinkedIn to find potential infiltration targets. The statement warned, "The ultimate goal of China's military intelligence agencies is to obtain military, political, and economic secrets that would give China a strategic and tactical advantage in order to counter the 'Five Eyes.'" (Editor: Chen Cheng-kung) 1150702

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