Former ASIO chief Duncan Lewis warns against Chinese interference in Australian affairs

The former head of ASIO has issued a warning that China intends to “take over” Australia's political system through “insidious” operations.

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The former Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) has said that the Chinese government ultimately plans to gain control of the Australian government and its political system through foreign interference.

Particularly vulnerable are those who hold political office, or positions in business and the media, who could be targeted by foreign operatives.

Former ASIO chief Duncan Lewis in his office at the Ben Chifley Building in Canberra. He has since warned of Chinese “infiltration”. Picture: Kym Smith

As an example of such a target Mr Lewis cited the case of former Labor senator Sam Dastyari who was forced to step down because of his links to China.

The stark warning came in an interview Mr Lewis gave after he retired in September this year.

Labor politician Sam Dastyari stepped down over his links to China. Picture: Liam Driver

In the interview, which will be published in Quarterly Essay, “Red Flag: Waking up to China’s challenge” on Monday, Mr Lewis was asked about China’s Australian agenda.

According to Nine Newspapers he said, “They are trying to place themselves in a position of advantage.”

Mr Lewis warned that the threat would be largely invisible and long-term, with the effects of this “insidious” covert plan, potentially undetected for “decades.”

“You wake up one day and find decisions made in our country that are not in the interests of our country,” he said.

What eventually could happen, said Mr Lewis, is that Australia would end up having China “pulling the strings from offshore.”

China's President Xi Jinping has met with Brazil’s head Jair Bolsonaro, as Australia tries to re-evaluate its relationship with China. Picture: AFP

In his former professional capacity Mr Lewis acted as the head of ASIO, whose role is to protect Australia and its citizens against foreign interference, espionage, sabotage, and terrorism.

China is not the only actor of politically-motivated sabotage, according to Mr Lewis during his tenure at ASIO, with other foreign governments such as Russia and North Korea posing a potential threat.

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But China, and the Chinese Communist Party, is currently “overwhelmingly” of concern to Australian authorities according to Mr Lewis in his first and only post-retirement interview.

It comes just days after Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton aired his concerns over the poor security features in digital devices that could open the door to foreign hackers and politically-motivated cyber attacks.

Mr Dutton announced a draft code of practice to address future security breaches, bringing Australia into line with nations such as Britain.

Chen Yonglin spoke out about China’s intention to infiltrate Australia. Picture: Supplied

Although the Turnbull government passed laws in 2018 protecting Australia from foreign interference — and China retaliated — Mr Lewis says that interference could still happen through “financing political parties.”

Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin defected from China to Australia and claimed that the Chinese government did have a strategy in place to influence Australia geopolitically.

However, last week, Paul Keating gave a speech on the shifting global order, and warned against anti-Chinese “paranoia”.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating speaking at The Australian’s Strategic Forum: How should we manage our relationship with China? Picture: Nikki Short

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with President Xi Jinping during the G20 in Osaka, Japan. Picture: Adam Taylor Adam Taylor/PMO

The former prime minister lambasted Australia’s security agencies, and certain media outlets, for spreading anti-China rhetoric.

“The whispered word of ‘communism’ of old is now being replaced by the word ‘China’,” Mr Keating told The Australian’s Strategic Forum event in Sydney, saying that it undermined the flexibility of Australian diplomacy.