Two Chinese nationals have been charged over claims they secretly gathered information on a Canberra-based Buddhist association on behalf of a Chinese government security agency.
A 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested on Wednesday and are due to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court. Each has been charged with one count of reckless foreign interference under Commonwealth law, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Stephen Nutt described foreign interference as a serious threat to Australia’s democratic institutions and social cohesion.
“Australia is not immune to foreign interference, and we should not expect this arrest will prevent further attempts to target our diaspora communities.”
He urged members of culturally and linguistically diverse communities to report suspicious conduct, noting they were more often victims of foreign interference or transnational repression than perpetrators.
The latest charges bring to five the number of people accused under Australia’s foreign interference laws since they were introduced in 2018. Separate investigations previously resulted in charges against a Victorian man in 2020 and a New South Wales man in 2023.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said foreign interference remained one of the country’s principal security challenges. “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.”
The arrests follow a long-running investigation known as Operation Autumn-Shield, launched in March 2025 after the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) provided intelligence to the Australian Federal Police-led Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce.
Police allege the pair worked with a third Chinese national, who was charged in August last year, to covertly obtain information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist organisation banned in China in 2017. Authorities claim the group acted under the direction of a public security bureau in China.
Search warrants were executed in the ACT in July 2025 as part of the probe.
Anyone who believes they are being threatened is encouraged to contact local police on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. Information about suspected foreign interference can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.
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