Chinese woman arrested in Australia on foreign interference charge

4/8/2025 19:00

A Chinese woman appeared in court in Australia's capital Canberra on Monday after police charged her with "reckless foreign interference" for allegedly

monitoring a Buddhist group in the city on behalf of a Chinese security agency.



It is the third time charges have been brought under foreign interference laws introduced in Australia in 2018, and the first time a Chinese national has been charged under the legislation.



The woman, who is also a permanent resident of Australia, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment if she is convicted, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement on Monday.



"The AFP will allege the woman ... was tasked by a Public Security Bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association," the statement said.



The Chinese embassy in Canberra did not respond to a request for comment. There was no immediate comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing.