Australia defends raid on Chinese journalists, says acted on evidence of foreign interference
- The incident, involving four Chinese state media journalists, was revealed by China’s foreign ministry this week
- Australia’s trade minister told local media that security agencies respond ‘appropriately’ to foreign interference concerns
China accuses Australia of ‘barbaric’ searches of journalists’ homes
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the Australian security agencies had acted according to the law.
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“We appropriately respond in relation to any foreign interference concerns that are raised in Australia,” he told the ABC News Breakfast television programme, when asked about the incident.
“We do it purely in relation to the evidence,” he added.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Wednesday said that the four journalists represented Xinhua News Agency, China Central Radio, state broadcaster CCTV and China News Agency.
Their work computers, mobile phones and “even children’s tablets and electronic toys” were seized in the raids, Zhao told reporters at a daily news briefing.
“As far as I know, the Australian side has so far not given a reasonable explanation for the raid and has not returned all the items seized to the journalists,” Zhao said, adding that China had lodged “solemn complaints with Australia”.
“We urge the Australian side to immediately stop the barbarous and irrational behaviour, stop using any excuses to harass and suppress the Chinese citizens in Australia, ensure their safety and legal rights and interests, and stop doing anything that would obstruct cultural exchanges between the two countries,” he said.
China has accused the Australian embassy of obstructing law enforcement when it sheltered the two journalists who were wanted for questioning in the country and returned to Australia this week.
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Birmingham denied this and said Australian embassy officials had respected China’s processes to negotiate an outcome.
“The embassy engaged diligently to ensure the safety of the two individuals concerned, but they also engaged cooperatively with Chinese officials to ensure the resolution of the matter, which included the opportunity for Chinese authorities to interview the individuals concerned,” he told ABC radio.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
