Photo: Chinese Consulate in Sydney, Australia (23 July 2015)
China's Consulate General in Sydney issued a statement on Wednesday (September 16) in response to Australia's statement accusation the Chinese Consulate General and officials engaged in "infiltration activities" against the country, calling it "false and pure slander ".
"China's Consulate General in Sydney is committed to promoting friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between China and New South Wales in all fields ," the statement said ." Australia has always complied with the basic norms of international law and international relationship in the performance of its duties. "
The day before the Sydney China Consulate issued a statement, Australia reported that Australian police had mentioned in a warrant the name of Sun Yantao, an official in charge of overseas Chinese affairs at the Chinese Consulate General in Sydney. China believes that Australia's practice violates international diplomatic law.
The central question of the investigation surrounding foreign penetration is whether the chinese consulate general in sydney conspired with zhang zhisen, a former chinese government official and adviser to a new south wales parliament to infiltrate new state labour to influence local voters.
Australian police examined Zhang's communications records, including mail, short news and telephone calls, and his correspondence with Chinese diplomats and consular officials.
Zhang said he was innocent and accusation Australian authorities violated international diplomatic law, Australian media reported.
he wrote to the federal government minister last month that australian police and border enforcement agencies checked and copied his communications with senior chinese diplomats and consulate officials in australia.
Furthermore, in January, police searched his computer and cell phone at Sydney airport, and in June, raided his home, company and parliament office in the new state.
Australia's government lawer officially acknowledged, for the first time, in a document submitted to the Australian High Court on September 1, the survey of foreign infiltration and influence on Australian politicians focused on China, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
According to the court document, the search warrant used by the police "clearly identified" the foreign party responsible as the "People's Republic of China ".
According to the Australian Anti-Foreign Intervention Act, any sabotage sexual behavior by foreign agencies in support of their intelligence activities and attempts to interfere with Australian democratic processes is a criminal offence.
The investigation, which has lasted for months, involves many people, including Australian politicians, Chinese diplomats and the press journalist, adding new pressure to the deteriorating Australian-Chinese relationship.
Last month, Cheng Lei, an Australian media person working for China's state media CCTV, was secretly arrested by the Chinese authorities for involvement in national security issues. Last week, two Australian journalists stationed in China evacuated China urgently after being questioned because of the Cheng Lei case.
On 8 Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaker 9, China described the two Australian journalist as part of a "normal law enforcement operation" they were questioned.
Simon Berger, Australia's trade minister, said last week that the search for two Chinese journalist was "appropriate" and "purely evidentiary ".
Australia and China relationship plummeted this year. Australia's prime minister, morrison, in april called on the international community to launch an independent international investigation into the source of Coronavirus, sparking anger in beijing. China subsequently retaliated by taking restrictive measures against Australia's main exports.
