A Chinese woman has been charged with ‘reckless foreign interference’ in Canberra after allegedly being ordered to covertly gather information on a Buddhist group, as more arrests are expected.
The Australian Federal Police revealed the unnamed woman, who is an Australian permanent resident, was charged with reckless foreign interference, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
It is alleged she was tasked by the Chinese state security agency with gathering covert information on the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association.
She was arrested on Saturday after AFP officers searched several premises in Canberra.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in court in the nation’s capital on Monday.
‘The AFP has alleged the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by China’s public security bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association,’ the AFP’s Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt told reporters on Monday afternoon.
The AFP launched Operation Autumn Shield in March this year after receiving information from Australia’s intelligence agency, ASIO.
‘We allege the activity was to support intelligence objectives of China’s public security bureau,’ Assistant Commissioner Nutt added.
He revealed it was the first time the AFP has ever charged someone with foreign interference that allegedly involves targeting members of the Australian community
He also said that the public could expect more arrests under Operation Autumn Shield.
Assistant Commissioner Nutt added: ‘Foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion.’
Assistant Commissioner Nutt said that foreign interference was distinguished from other foreign influence by the presence of ‘covert and deceptive conduct or threats of serious harm or demands with menaces’.
