Stung China denies seeking to interfere in Australia’s domestic affairs

CHINA has insisted it does not interfere in Australia’s domestic affairs and urged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to move to improve bilateral relations.

Just a day after the PM launched a fiery Question Time attack on Sam Dastyari over his dealings with Chinese Communist Party-linked businessman Huang Xiangmo, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Australia needed to act in a way more conducive to good relations between the two countries.

Mr Turnbull did not specifically mention China as he announced a major overhaul of foreign interference laws on Tuesday, but his mention of “disturbing reports about Chinese influence” would appear to have angered one of our most important neighbours and trading partners.

The Guardian quoted the Chinese foreign minister’s spokesman as saying: “China develops its friendly relations with other countries on the basis of mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. China does not interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs.

“We urge the relevant people in Australia to discard prejudice and speak and act more in a way that will be conducive to boosting the China-Australia relationship and deepening co-operation.”

Under the update to Australia’s treason and espionage laws, acts of political interference such as Senator Dastyari’s soliciting of a donation from Mr Huang would be outlawed.

A new offence of intentional foreign interference would make it a crime for someone to engage in conduct on behalf of a foreign principal that would influence a political or governmental process and was either covert or involved deception.

In Senate Question Time yesterday, Attorney-General George Brandis said Senator Dastyari – who reportedly warned Mr Huang last year his phone was likely tapped by government agencies – had allowed himself to be used as a “Chinese agent of influence”.