Australia arrests Chinese national for spying, third case under 2018 foreign interference law

A Chinese woman has become the first Chinese national charged under Australia’s 2018 foreign interference laws, marking only the third case since the legislation was introduced.

She appeared in a Canberra court on Monday, accused of “reckless foreign interference” for allegedly spying on a local Buddhist group on behalf of a Chinese security agency.

The woman, who holds Australian permanent residency, faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted, according to a Reuters report, citing the Australian Federal Police.

“The AFP will allege the woman … was tasked by a Public Security Bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association,” Reuters quoted AFP as saying in a statement.

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Police launched an investigation into the woman’s activities in March after receiving intelligence from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), added the statement.

She was arrested on Saturday following police searches of properties in Canberra.

The introduction of the foreign interference laws in 2018 has contributed to diplomatic tensions with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

The two previous cases under the legislation involved Australian citizens accused of collaborating with Chinese intelligence services.

“Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve,” Reuters quoted Mike Burgess, director-general of the ASIO, as saying in a statement.

With inputs from agencies