‘Irrational': China's top spy agency attacks ASIO over espionage ‘threat'
In a statement released on its official WeChat account, China's Ministry of State Security appeared to seize on a recent speech by ASIO director-general Mike Burgess in which he warned 'nation states are spying at unprecedented levels, with unprecedented sophistication'.
Burgess singled out China, Russia and Iran as three of the main sources of espionage activity, though he stressed a wide range of countries were trying to steal Australia's secrets in remarks delivered as part of the Hawke Oration in Adelaide on July 31.
China's spy agency claimed the speech exposed Australia's anxiety about its security, and accused ASIO and other agencies of being 'irrational and unprofessional'.
'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.
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'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 Chinese ministry said the actions were undermining recent efforts by Australia and China to stabilise the bilateral relationship.
The statement did not directly refer to the arrest of a Chinese woman in Canberra earlier this month, who was charged with reckless foreign interference. The woman is accused of allegedly spying on the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association, on behalf of China's Public Security Bureau.
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