China releases footage allegedly showing self-proclaimed spy pleading guilty to fraud
China has released a video it claims shows Wang Liqiang, who approached ASIO with details on Chinese intelligence operations, pleading guilty to fraud charges, as Australian authorities attempt to establish whether he’s a spy or a shyster.
National
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Australian authorities are still trying to establish whether Wang Liqiang is a Chinese spy or a shyster.
Wang is seeking political asylum in Australia after approaching ASIO with information about Chinese intelligence operations.
But China has released video purporting to show Wang pleading guilty to fraud charges in 2016.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne gave a careful response when asked what she made of the footage.
“These are serious allegations and they should be dealt with seriously,” Senator Payne told ABC radio.
The minister quickly pivoted to the broader threat of foreign interference in Australian politics.
“We made changes to our laws to address foreign interference no matter where it comes from, no matter who is responsible,” she said.
“It’s important that Australia has these laws in place and that we enforce them.”
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who chairs parliament’s intelligence and security committee, confirmed he put the self-proclaimed spy in touch with ASIO.
The former soldier was at a conference in Hawaii when he was contacted by an intermediary of Mr Wang’s.
He claimed to have information on how Chinese intelligence officers funded operations on Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia.
“My immediate reaction was to put it back through official channels, to hand it off to the intelligence services,” Mr Hastie told The Australian.
TWIST IN CHINA SPY CLAIMS
Police believe the man at the centre of an alleged plot by China to infiltrate the Liberal Party was the result of an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
The Australian reports Bo “Nick” Zhao died of an overdose, accidental or deliberate, despite speculation he may have met foul play.
“Privately, police say the death was not considered suspicious and the coronial process currently under way is no more than a bureaucratic requirement,” according to the News Corp publication.
Zhao, 32, a former luxury car dealer was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room after reportedly approaching ASIO to discuss the plot.
Self-proclaimed Chinese spy Wang Liqiang who first raised the allegations in an interview with 60 Minutes.
“The AFP can confirm it is actively investigating the claims made by Mr Wang,’’ a spokesman said.
Wang claimed Chinese operatives offered $1 million to fund Liberal Party member Zhao’s tilt at federal parliament.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess on Monday issued a rare public statement confirming the domestic spy agency was aware of the plot.
“Australians can be reassured that ASIO was previously aware of matters that were reported today, and has been actively investigating them,” Mr Burgess said in a statement.
“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.”
Scott Morrison told reporters he found the allegations “deeply disturbing and troubling”.
“I refer you to the Director-General’s statement, which said that these matters were already under investigation, and those investigations are continuing. I would caution anyone leaping to any conclusions about these matters. And that’s why we have these agencies. I’m not. But I do find the allegations troubling and disturbing,” Mr Morrison said.
He added: “I can assure Australians that under our government, the resources have never been stronger, the laws have never been tougher, and the government has never been more determined to keep Australians free and safe from foreign interference.”
Nine newspapers had reported that Mr Wang has provided ASIO with details of how China’s senior military intelligence officers fund and conduct political interference operations in Australia, as well as in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The 27-year-old is currently hiding out in Sydney with his wife and two-year-old son, saying he lives in constant fear of being watched, followed or attacked.
Asked whether he could guarantee the safety of Mr Wang and his family, Mr Morrison said: “He’s in Australia. We have the rule of law in Australia. And as a result then you can expect the same protections to apply to anyone who is living in our country, whether on a visa or any other arrangement”.
But Chinese media is reporting Wang is a fraud.
Shanghai police said on late Saturday evening that Wang is an ex-convict, the Global Times reports.
He was previously sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2016 for fraud and put on probation for 18 months.
“Now the guy is trying to cheat internationally,” the media outlet reports.
It continues: “To work in China’s national security establishment, one has to pass the civil service examination. Many hold graduate or a PhD degree, or bachelor’s degree at the minimum. A 26-year-old person can only be a novice, so how could he hold an important position as Wang claimed? ”
An editorial in the Global Times claims 60 Minutes “has hyped Wang’s story into an explosive story.”
“The disgusting farce has fooled many Western people. The atmosphere of hostility toward China has been intensified in Western public opinion. Western media reports on China now only care about stance and completely ignore facts and logic.”
Senate crossbencher Rex Patrick said a “shadow” remained over Victorian Liberal MP Gladys Liu.
“She hasn’t made a statement to parliament about her connections with the Chinese,” Senator Patrick said on Monday.
“I’m not suggesting anything but there is a shadow and where there’s a shadow, light can solve issues to make sure that people are absolutely confident in MPs.”
Ms Liu, the Liberal member for Chisholm, has previously come under fire for her links to Chinese Communist Party propaganda organisations.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said he was “not in a position to make a statement on operational matters” but insisted the government was taking the matter “very seriously”.
Senator Cormann said it would be “getting a bit ahead of ourselves” to suggest the government would complain to China.
“Australia wants to have a positive and constructive relationship with China,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“(But) issues will arise that need to be dealt with and where there is bad and inappropriate conduct we will call that out and seek to have that addressed.”
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said Australia faced unprecedented levels of foreign interference.
“We back our agencies to do the job that we put them in place to do,” he said.
Nationals backbencher Barnaby Joyce is not surprised by allegations China tried to plant a spy in parliament.
“I know the Chinese, in one way or another, have been trying to infiltrate our parliament, whether online or directly through politicians,” he told the Seven Network.
“We must be resolute and strong and realise this is the new world order we are living in.”
Labor asked the Morrison government for an urgent briefing and public explanation.
Deputy opposition leader Richard Marles said people needed to be confident Australia was free from foreign interference.
“We obviously want to understand everything that we can know about this,” Mr Marles told the ABC.
“But on the face of it and what’s in the public domain right now, this is a very, very serious matter.”
Liberal backbencher Andrew Hastie says he was briefed on Mr Zhao’s death as chair of the parliamentary committee on intelligence and security.
“It was surreal, it was like something out of a spy novel happening in Melbourne with impunity,” he told 60 Minutes.
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“This isn’t just cash in a bag, given for favours, this 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. So this is really significant and Australians should be very, very concerned about this.”
It is the second explosive allegation on the weekend of attempts by the Chinese government to influence Australian politics.
Nine newspapers reported on Saturday that a Chinese spy provided ASIO with details of how Chinese military intelligence officers fund and conduct political interference operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia.
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