More Chinese officials ‘willing to talk’ as Beijing crushes dissent, spy boss says

The head of Australia’s overseas spy agency has hinted that disaffected Chinese officials are increasingly open to talking to his operatives.

Australian Secret Intelligence Agency director-general Paul Symon says the agency was benefiting from intelligence opportunities from ‘authoritarian states’.

The head of Australia’s overseas spy agency has hinted that disaffected Chinese officials are increasingly providing his operatives with information because of concerns over the growing authoritarianism under President Xi Jinping.

Australian Secret Intelligence Agency director-general Paul Symon said the agency was benefiting from intelligence opportunities “that emerge from the suppressed dissent within authoritarian states”.

“In China we have an ancient culture but there is a monoculture that is being enforced,” Mr Symon told the Lowy Institute in an address to mark the agency’s 70th anniversary.

“We don’t know exactly how that will play out but what we are seeing is more and more signs of officials, individuals interested in a relationship.

“That is not coercion. That is very real concern about their culture, the lack of diversity in their culture, and the direction they are heading in.”

As China strengthens its security relationship with Solomon Islands, Mr Symon said it was “disappointing” that while Australia had sought to respect the Pacific nation’s sovereignty in its support following last year’s riots in Honiara, that was “not what I see” in the response of “other countries”.

“There are pressures, there are offers, that are causing very real concerns,” he said.

Mr Symon, who visited Solomon Islands for talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare before he signed his new security pact with China, said Australia’s intelligence community would do everything it could “to help them know and understand that what is going on at the moment is a big deal”.

“It’s a big deal for Australia, it’s a big deal for the region, and I think that for the mothers and many of the citizens of Solomon Islands, it is a very big deal too.”

In his speech, Mr Symon confirmed ASIS officers were present on the ground in Afghanistan when the Taliban took over the capital and Australia joined the international airlift to get citizens and refugees out of the country.

“They left only after those for whom ASIS had direct responsibility were safe and in a third country,” he said.

“We had followed through with our pact to our sources – that we will do everything we can to protect their identities and to care for their safety and welfare.”

Mr Symon said high quality intelligence was in “very high demand” as the global rules-based order came under growing pressure.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Picture: AFP

“The need for effective national intelligence – particularly the synthesis of quality collection and assessment – has never been more acute,” he said.

Mr Symon said authoritarian regimes were also experiencing a “heyday” due to technological advances, with ASIS also had to take advantage of.

“We cannot avoid or fight this wave of digital transformation – we must drop in on the wave and ride it.

“Specifically, HUMINT (human intelligence) operators need to turn the tables by mastering technology to meet a range of functions and requirements.”

Mr Symon said ASIS’s officers were “the most dedicated, intelligent and loyal Australians you could ever meet”.

“They might be one of your family members, one of your neighbours, your classmates or former colleagues,” he said.

“I can also tell you that somewhere in the world, right now, there is an ASIS officer taking serious risks – albeit deeply considered and mitigated as far as possible – to protect your rights and interests as an Australian.”