This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
Published on November 30, 2019, Australian intelligence agencies have raised alarms about China, a topic often avoided by politicians.
One recent case has caught the attention of authorities: the investigation into accusations made by Nick Zhao, a 32-year-old Australian businessman.
Mr. Zhao, a luxury car dealer and member of his local Liberal Party branch, claimed to have been targeted by a plot to install him in Parliament as a Chinese agent.
According to Andrew Hastie, a federal lawmaker and critic of Beijing, Mr. Zhao was a 'perfect target for cultivation' due to his high-roller lifestyle in Melbourne.
Mr. Zhao alleged that a businessman with ties to the Chinese government offered him AU$1 million to finance his election campaign, but he was found dead in a hotel room in March.
Mike Burgess, the head of Australia's domestic spy agency, has confirmed that his organization is taking the case seriously.
The Chinese government has denied the allegations, calling them a sign of Australian hysteria.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stated, 'Stories like “Chinese espionage” or “China’s infiltration in Australia,” with however bizarre plots and eye-catching details, are nothing but lies.'
