Australia Charges 2 More Chinese Nationals for Spying on Local Religious Group
Udumbara
.
Two further Chinese nationals have been charged by the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce (CFITF) for allegedly collecting information about the Canberra-based Guan Yin Citta Buddhist Association on behalf of Beijing.
The accused, a 25-year-old man and 31-year-old woman, will face court in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court on Feb. 11.
Each are charged with one count of reckless foreign interference, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years’ prison.
The AFP, as part of the CFITF, began Operation Autumn-Shield in March, 2025, after receiving information from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Investigations led to a number of search warrants in the ACT in July, 2025 and the arrest of a female Chinese national in August, 2025.
The AFP will allege the pair worked with that female Chinese national under direction of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau in China, to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta.
The pair are among several individuals charged with foreign interference offences since new laws were introduced by the Commonwealth in 2018.
In investigations separate to Operation Autumn-Shield, 65-year-old Victorian man Duong Di Sanh was charged in November, 2020, with preparing for a foreign interference offence.
In 2023, 55-year-old New South Wales (NSW) man Alexander Csergo was charged with one count of Reckless Foreign Interference.
AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the latest arrest would not prevent further attempts to infiltrate Australia’s diaspora communities.
“It is important to note, one of the best defences to foreign interference is increased community awareness of the threat and the reporting of suspicious activity to authorities.
“Members of our culturally and linguistically diverse communities are more likely to be victims of foreign interference or transnational repression than to be offenders.”
.
Nutt said the AFP was reliant upon tip-offs in order to continuously monitor threats.
“Anyone with information on individuals or groups suspected of committing foreign interference should contact the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400,” he said.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said what was a complex, challenging and changing security environment was becoming more dynamic, diverse and degraded.
“Multiple foreign regimes are monitoring, harassing and intimidating members of our diaspora communities,” he said.
“This sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.”
.
