Australian flag in front of the Chinese People's Congress Party (Reuters)
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Qantas Beijing journalist Bill Botus Bill Birtles( right) and Australian Financial Review Shanghai journalist Mike Smith at the airport on September 8 Mike Smith2020(Twitter account from Baltus Australia)
journalist returned to Australia on Tuesday, Sept.8,2020, and recounted being knocked at the door last Monday night by Chinese security officials.
Several hours later, china's state-run xinhua news agency published an article saying that at dawn on june 26, australian state intelligence agents raided the homes of chinese media journalist in australia, interrogated journalist for hours, and took away office supplies such as journalist work computers and mobile phones. Australian intelligence officials also asked Chinese journalist not to disclose the search, the article said.
The xinhua news agency article, reproduced on china's embassy website in australia, said australian intelligence officers had also searched labour councillor mossman's home and office on the grounds that the councillor had publicly praised china's achievements against Coronavirus and criticized australia's policy towards china.
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Reuters reported that the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), in an e-mail response to journalist enquiries, said it would not comment on intelligence, the agency would not comment on intelligence matters. According to the report, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who searched Mosman and a Chinese staff office on June 26, said the search warrant was related to an ongoing investigation. Australian High Court documents show federal police are investigating whether the Chinese employee illegally interfered in Australian politics to advance China's national interests.
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Patrick (Rex Patrick), a federal senator from South Australia, said if Australia's journalist can no longer safely report from China, then Australia should government take the necessary action to end the operation of Chinese Communist Party's main propaganda agency, Xinhua, in Australia.
