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Chinese spy decided to defect to Australia
Chinese spy Wang Liqiang alleges Beijing ordered overseas murders, including in Australia
A man claiming to have worked as a secret Chinese operative for five years says Beijing has directed overseas assassinations, including on Australian soil.
Government sources have confirmed to the ABC Wang "William" Liqiang has detailed the sensational allegations as he seeks political asylum.
Nine Newspapers have reported Mr Wang is in hiding in Sydney after recently providing a sworn statement to Australia's domestic spy agency ASIO outlining Beijing's covert operations.
One senior official, speaking to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, said the challenge for security agencies was to now "separate fact from fiction" while assessing Mr Wang's disclosures.
In the statement Mr Wang provided ASIO last month, he reportedly states: "I have been personally involved and participated in a series of espionage activities".
According to Nine Newspapers, Mr Wang has provided new details about the kidnapping of five booksellers who specialised in works critical of Chinese leaders based in Hong Kong, starting in 2015, and their rendition to mainland China.
He is also reported to have said spies from Beijing were infiltrating Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, influencing Taiwan's elections and "operating with impunity in Australia", according to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was a "sensitive matter" being followed up by the relevant authorities.
"These are very disturbing reports and the matter is now in the hands of the appropriate law enforcement agencies so I wouldn't comment on the particulars of individual cases," he said.
"The Government makes no apologies for the measures we have taken to ensure that we have foreign interference laws in place."
According to the reports, Mr Wang is seeking political asylum and remains in an undisclosed location in Sydney on a tourist visa.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-23/chinese-spy-wang-liqiang-seeks-political-asylum-australia-report/11732174 [abc.net.au]
Most spies face a moment that challenges their loyalty. But rarely does it make them consider the unimaginable – risking jail or worse for renouncing their country.
For fresh-faced Chinese intelligence operative Wang “William” Liqiang, the arrival of a fake South Korean passport earlier this year triggered such a moment.
The name, date and place of birth on the passport belonged to someone else but the photo was his. His orders were to shift his attention from a covert operation to undermine Hong Kong’s democracy movement and focus instead on meddling in Taiwan’s 2020 elections. The ultimate aim was to topple President Tsai Ing-wen.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-moment-a-chinese-spy-decided-to-defect-to-australia-20191122-p53d0x.html [theage.com.au]
A Chinese spy has reportedly sought political asylum in Australia after revealing details of Beijing's espionage activities.
Wang "William" Liqiang has told Nine Newspapers he has provided a sworn statement to Australia's domestic spy agency ASIO, detailing his involvement in covert operations.
According to the reports, Mr Wang is seeking political asylum and remains in an undisclosed location in Sydney on a tourist visa.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said it was a "sensitive matter" being followed up by the relevant authorities.
"These are very disturbing reports and the matter is now in the hands of the appropriate law enforcement agencies so I wouldn't comment on the particulars of individual cases," he said.
"The Government makes no apologies for the measures we have taken to ensure that we have foreign interference laws in place."
A statement Mr Wang provided ASIO last month reportedly states: "I have been personally involved and participated in a series of espionage activities."
Can't wait to see the spin that China puts on this. And, the spin that US media puts on it should be even better!
