01:24
China accuses Australia of ‘barbaric’ raids of journalists’ homes
China accuses Australia of ‘barbaric’ searches of journalists’ homes over foreign interference laws
- Foreign ministry demands end to ‘unreasonable acts’ after Chinese journalists in Australia were interrogated and had devices seized
- Academic says it is ‘preposterous’ to suppose influence by Chinese WeChat group on Australian politics
In a regular briefing on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that in late June authorities in Australia interrogated four journalists from Chinese state-run organisations Xinhua, China Media Group and China News Service.
The Chinese reporters – who have since returned to China – had their residences searched over potential violations of Australian foreign interference laws, and their work computers, phones and other devices were seized, Zhao said.
“The Australian side has yet to provide a reasonable explanation for the searches of our reporters, and have still not returned all of their seized possessions,” he said. “We demand that Australia immediately stop these barbaric and unreasonable acts.”
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03:39
Australia’s last two accredited journalists in mainland China evacuated as diplomatic ties worsen
Zhang has been under investigation for use of a WeChat group to influence Moselmane on positions relating to China, allegations Zhang denies and has sought to challenge in court, according to the ABC.
Four people reportedly included in the investigation as part of the WeChat group were Australian bureau chief of China News Service (CNS) Tao Shelan, the Sydney bureau chief for China Radio International (CRI), Li Dayong, as well as two Chinese academics of Australian studies, Chen Hong and Li Jianjun.
CNS and CRI did not respond to requests for comment. Li Jianjun did not answer his mobile but the ABC has reported that his visa for Australia has been cancelled.
Chen, director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University in Shanghai, said on Wednesday afternoon it was “preposterous” that the WeChat group was seen as a means of influence and that its conversations did not have “the remotest complicity of anything suspicious”.
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The Chinese scholar said his friendship with Moselmane and Zhang was “entirely above board”. He said his own visa to Australia had been cancelled on August 6 on security grounds, which he rejected.
“I wrote a letter to their immigration department to say I do not accept their decision, but they said it was ‘irrevocable’ so if needed I will apply again for a visa, but cannot do anything if they do not give it to me,” he said, adding he had not received a response. “I have done nothing and will do nothing to act as a risk to Australia’s security.”
Chen added that the actions against the Chinese journalists in Australia was a “violation of their rights”, compared to the treatment of Birtles and Smith “in accordance with the law”.
Australia’s foreign affairs department did not immediately comment.
Australian diplomats had helped negotiate the departure of Birtles and Smith from China. Temporary exit bans on the two were lifted after they agreed to be questioned for one hour.
Birtles and Smith wrote personal accounts of their experience for the ABC and AFR, respectively, detailing how state security officers had shown up at their homes in Beijing and Shanghai past midnight last week to inform them they were involved in a national security case. Both wrote of being sheltered for days in the Australian embassy and consulate.
The two were questioned in separate interviews about their reporting in China and their relationship to Cheng, whom neither knew well.
“My departure is just part of a bigger trend accelerated by Beijing’s increasing pursuit of a narrative exclusively on the Communist Party’s terms,” Birtles wrote. “It is a pursuit that will leave both Australians, Chinese and the wider world less informed and less understanding of each other.”
Smith said the incident might have been “another exercise designed to try to intimidate the Australian government at a time when it is standing up to Beijing”.