Latest news with #MikeBurgess
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Beijing accuses Canberra of lying about spy threats while claiming to have foiled Australian spies in China
China has accused Australia of lying about a "Chinese espionage threat" and claims Beijing's security services have foiled Australia spies operating in the country. The statement come less than two weeks after a Chinese national was charged for allegedly spying for Beijing in Canberra. China's Ministry of State Security issued a lengthy statement on its WeChat messaging channel on Friday. It said Australia had deliberately exaggerated the threat of Chinese espionage, and accused some leaders of painting the country as "victims". The ministry referenced a speech made by ASIO chief Mike Burgess earlier this year, in which he said China was a major espionage threat to Australia. Mr Burgess said his organisation was "seeing more Australians targeted — more aggressively — than ever before" by other countries. "This fabrication and hype over a so-called 'Chinese espionage threat' reflect that certain forces in Australia are unwilling to see China-Australia relations develop in a healthy and stable manner, and instead seek to stir up trouble out of nothing," the ministry said. "Such malicious speculation based on self-projection, and unfounded persecution fantasies … expose Australia's 'over-anxiety' about its own security." The statement also said that China's security agencies had "lawfully uncovered multiple espionage cases orchestrated by Australian intelligence services" — moves which it said had protected its sovereignty and security interests. It provided no further details about the incidents. Beijing has long suspected Australia of collecting intelligence on behalf of other countries, including the United States, as part of the Five Eyes agreement with Canada, New Zealand and the UK. "When Australia's intelligence agencies played up claims that foreign espionage poses a 'serious threat' to Australia — and even baselessly accused China of espionage to portray themselves as innocent 'victims' — they offered nothing but unfounded assumptions and sensational conjecture, without any facts or evidence," it said. "Whether this performance was a case of doing someone else's bidding, or simply a forced essay on a given theme, it has come across as irrational and unprofessional." The ministry made a point of noting the "joint efforts" that both countries had undertaken to rebuild the relationship from a "low point". However it added that some Australian leaders' "China-fear" and "China exclusion" continued "counter to the right direction charted by the two countries' leaders". "As China and Australia embark on the second decade of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, both sides should continue to deepen strategic mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, foster people-to-people friendship, and jointly address risks and challenges," the statement concluded. Earlier this month Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrested and charged a Chinese national in Canberra with allegedly spying on the the Buddhist association Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door on behalf of Beijing. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing in July — a trip widely seen as a sign of renewed relations between the two countries. ASIO and the AFP have been contacted for comment.
The Australian
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Australian
China denies Australian espionage claims, alleges ASIO spying
Beijing has hit back at Australian claims China is spying on Australia, saying the accusations were 'groundless' and accusing Australian intelligence agencies of operating in China. 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. Picture: PMO 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. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman 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.' Read related topics: China Ties
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
China hits back at ASIO over spying claims
Beijing has hit back at Australian claims China is spying on Australia, saying the accusations were 'groundless' and accusing Australian intelligence agencies of operating in China. 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.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
China's Ministry of State Security hits back at claims Beijing spying on Australia
Beijing has hit back at Australian claims China is spying on Australia, saying the accusations were 'groundless' and accusing Australian intelligence agencies of operating in China. 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. 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. 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.'
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Irrational': China's top spy agency attacks ASIO over espionage ‘threat'
Beijing's top spy agency has accused Australian intelligence agencies of fabricating a 'Chinese espionage threat' while conducting their own operations against China, with its verbal blast coming less than two weeks after the arrest of a Chinese national on foreign interference charges. 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. Loading '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.
