China hits back at ASIO over spying claims
China's Ministry of State Security on Friday released a statement via its official WeChat account, appearing to take issue with recent events in Australia, including a major speech by ASIO boss Mike Burgess.
'Australian intelligence agencies advocated the 'serious threat' posed by foreign espionage activities to Australia, and even packaged themselves as innocent 'victims' in groundless accusations of 'Chinese espionage threat',' the Chinese ministry's statement said.
'In recent years, China's state security organs have successively cracked a number of espionage cases against China instigated by Australian intelligence agencies in accordance with the law, effectively safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests.'
The statement comes just a month after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese undertook a six-day state visit to China, as his government seeks to normalise relations with Beijing after several tense years. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his official visit to China in July. PMO Credit: Supplied
The statement also follows a speech by Mr Burgess, Australia's chief spy, on July 31, where he again identified China as being among the top three countries spying on Australia.
Mr Burgess revealed ASIO had disrupted 24 'major espionage and foreign interference' operations in the past three years alone.
'Nation states are spying at unprecedented levels, with unprecedented sophistication,' he said.
'ASIO is seeing more Australians targeted – more aggressively – than ever before.'
While AUKUS and military technology secrets were targets, Australia's intellectual property and cutting edge research was also in the sights of foreign agents.
And earlier this month, the Australian Federal Police charged a Chinese national with reckless foreign interference after she was allegedly tasked by China to spy on a Canberra Buddhist group. China has taken a swipe at claims by ASIO boss Mike Burgess that Beijing is actively spying in Australia. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia
The woman was arrested under the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce and charged with reckless foreign interference. The crime carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.
Mr Burgess said at the time he was proud of the significant contribution ASIO had made on the matter.
'Foreign interference of the kind alleged is an appalling assault on Australian values, freedoms and sovereignty,' Mr Burgess said.
'In this year's annual threat assessment, I called out these types of activities and put perpetrators on notice by stating, 'we are watching, and we have zero tolerance'.
'Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve.'
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