Australian authorities have charged two Chinese nationals with foreign interference, accusing them of gathering intelligence on a Buddhist group in Canberra on behalf of Chinese security officials.
Federal police said Wednesday that a 25-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were each charged with one count of “reckless foreign interference,” an offense carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The pair are expected to appear in court later in the day.
Investigators allege the two worked alongside another Chinese national who was charged in August 2025 for covertly collecting information on the Guan Yin Citta movement. Authorities say the activities were directed by China’s Public Security Bureau, the country’s primary domestic law enforcement agency.
Australia’s federal police began investigating the case last year after receiving a tip from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. ASIO chief Mike Burgess described the broader security climate as “complex, challenging and changing,” warning that multiple foreign governments are attempting to monitor and intimidate members of diaspora communities in Australia.
“This sort of behaviour is utterly unacceptable and cannot be tolerated,” Burgess said in a statement.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt, who oversees counterterrorism and special investigations, said foreign interference and transnational repression disproportionately affect culturally and linguistically diverse communities. “Australia is not immune,” he added, cautioning that the arrests are unlikely to end such efforts.
The Guan Yin Citta group promotes Buddhist scripture recitation and spiritual practice and claims millions of followers worldwide. Beijing has labeled the movement a “cult,” and China’s security services have long been accused by rights groups of infiltrating overseas community organizations to track dissidents and expatriates.
Responding to the charges, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian urged Canberra to handle the matter “prudently” and to protect the rights of Chinese citizens, saying he was unaware of specific details of the case.
The arrests come against a backdrop of fluctuating ties between Canberra and Beijing. Relations have been strained in recent years by disputes over national security and influence in the Pacific, though trade tensions eased in 2024 when China lifted restrictions on Australian rock lobster imports. China remains Australia’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly one-third of its total trade.
