<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span>'s federal and intelligence officers have charged two more Chinese nationals with foreign interference after they allegedly collected information about a Buddhist association in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/canberra" rel="" target="_blank" title="Canberra"><span>Canberra</span></a><span>. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested earlier today following further investigations into an alleged plot to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta as directed by the Public Security Bureau of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/china" rel="" target="_blank" title="China"><span>China</span></a><span>. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The pair are accused of working with a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chinese-national-charged-with-foreign-interference-in-canberra/9e0f80a5-a0ec-4ab1-9a55-ae3e5cb3b6fb" rel="" target="_blank" title="woman, a Chinese national and Australian permanent resident, who was charged in August"><span>woman, a Chinese national and Australian permanent resident, who was charged in August</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/federal-government-pushes-for-mandatory-health-star-ratings-on-all-food-products/cad4e6c5-d949-422c-8546-3a3706a7e135" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Major change to come to supermarket shelves</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They have been charged with one count each of reckless foreign interference and are facing 15 years' imprisonment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They are the fourth and fifth people charged with foreign interference since new laws were introduced in 2018. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said Australia is not immune to foreign interference, and these arrests would not prevent more attempts by foreign groups to target diaspora communities.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/two-more-chinese-nationals-charged-with-foreign-interference/2f2b2f8c-0cdc-4a03-8084-ae4005edb08f" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The AFP cannot be everywhere at all times, and we rely on information from the public to supplement our own intelligence gathering and investigative efforts," he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/commonwealth-bank-profit-australia-interest-rate-rise-warning/67a98e30-6af1-401f-8b20-6bbed4c649db" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>CBA posts billions in profit before warning Aussies to brace for pain</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said foreign interference remains one of the country's greatest security concerns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A complex, challenging and changing security environment is becoming more dynamic, diverse and degraded," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Multiple foreign regimes are monitoring, harassing and intimidating members of our diaspora communities. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and cannot be tolerated."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>

SHARE:

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.*