The Australian national security agency thwarted a conspiracy by Chinese spies to support candidates for Australia’s center-left Labor opposition party in the upcoming federal election, according to various local media outlets.
According to the claims, the operation was orchestrated by an anonymous businessman with strong Chinese ties who wanted to sponsor politicians in New South Wales in exchange for political clout.
However, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) was alerted and the scheme was foiled, according to the reports, which did not go into detail about the alleged plot’s timing or how it was foiled.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, which cited anonymous security sources, the plot was orchestrated by a Chinese intelligence agency.
The reports come at a time when National security is expected to be a key campaign theme in the upcoming federal election, which is scheduled for May.
TIn most polls, the ruling conservative Coalition is lagging, and it has recently accused Labor of being China’s favourite party.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese expressed confidence that none of his candidates had been compromised after speaking with ASIO director general Mike Burgess, “and he has reaffirmed that he has not raised concerns about any of my candidates”.
“I understand the government’s desperate for distractions at the moment but I say to them that national security is too important to engage in game-playing,” he told reporters.
Burgess had made a general reference to “multiple” foreign countries seeking to interfere with Australian governments in a speech on Wednesday, and referred to one “puppeteer” who had worked on behalf of an unnamed government to identify and bankroll candidates who would act in the interests of the foreign power without their knowledge.
According to information released on Friday, the puppeteer mentioned by Burgess was acting on behalf of China.
An ASIO spokesperson pointed Reuters to a transcript of Burgess’ remarks and declined to comment more.
China’s embassy in Canberra did not respond to a request for comment via email.
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