Plot to ‘implant spy MP’
Australian authorities are investigating claims that a Chinese espionage ring tried to install an agent for Beijing in a seat in federal Parliament.
Sources with knowledge of the alleged plot believe the suspected Chinese intelligence group offered a million dollars to pay for the political campaign of Liberal Party member and Melbourne luxury car dealer Bo ‘‘Nick’’ Zhao, 32, to run for an eastern suburbs seat. The plot appears to be part of an operation to place a Chinese agent in Parliament.
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation directorgeneral of security Mike Burgess issued a statement entitled ‘‘Foreign interference’’. He said ASIO ‘‘takes seriously’’ the allegations reported by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes about Zhao as well as claims by young Chinese defector Wang Liqiang, who said he had worked as a spy in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the extraordinary statement, Burgess said he was ‘‘committed to protecting Australia’s democracy and sovereignty. Australians can be reassured that ASIO was previously aware of matters that have been reported today, and has been actively investigating them. However, in accordance with long-standing practice, I will not comment on this particular operational matter, including any detail of the individuals involved.’’
‘‘Hostile foreign intelligence activity continues to pose a real threat to our nation and its security. ASIO will continue to confront and counter foreign interference and espionage in Australia.’’
Zhao disclosed the alleged approach to ASIO about a year ago, according to his associates and multiple Western security sources, and he identified the man he says approached him as another Melbourne businessman, Brian Chen. Chen (Chinese name Chen Chunsheng) has denied knowing Zhao or being involved in Chinese intelligence activities. However, sources say Australian authorities have determined that Chen had been in contact with Zhao. Zhao’s claims have sparked an investigation into the alleged efforts by Chinese military intelligence to place an espionage asset in Canberra.
In March this year, Zhao was found dead in a Melbourne motel room. Local police who have prepared a brief for the coroner have been unable to conclude how he died. Burgess’s statement said of Zhao’s death: ‘‘Given that the matter in question is subject to a coronial inquiry, and as not to prejudice our investigations, it would be inappropriate to comment further.’’
The suspected plot to fund Zhao’s campaign would be the clearest example of Chinese government foreign interference ever detailed in a Western country, and provides some insight into the scale and nature of the threat that ASIO has labelled ‘‘unprecedented’’ but which has never been publicly explained in detail.
What was alleged by Zhao ‘‘is a state-sponsored attempt to infiltrate our Parliament using an Australian citizen and basically run them as an agent of foreign influence in our democratic system,’’ said Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who is chair of the Australian Parliament’s intelligence and security committee and who has been briefed.
The revelations emerged amid the defection to Australia of a man claiming to be a Chinese spy. Wang Liqiang, who says he was an intelligence operative, claimed the Chinese government used front companies and influence campaigns to infiltrate Hong Kong’s independence movement, organise kidnappings and assaults on democracy activists and interfered in Taiwan’s elections.
Chinese authorities hit back on Saturday with claims that Wang had been found guilty in 2016 of fraud, was being investigated over a second allegation and had been the subject of a number of other property and loan disputes. Wang denied the claims and stood by his claims.
Chen and Zhao’s story is not related to the matters that Wang revealed. – Nine