Australia arrests two Chinese nationals accused of spying on Buddhist group

0 February 11, 2026 09:52

China has said it does not interfere in other countries, after Australia charged two Chinese nationals with foreign interference. The 31-year-old woman and 25-year-old man are accused of covertly gathering information on a Buddhist group in Canberra. If found guilty, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years’ jail. The Chinese foreign ministry has urged Australia to exercise care in its handling of the case. The arrests are part of a continuing crackdown aimed at guarding against the infiltration of organisations by other nations. Australia introduced "foreign interference laws" in 2018 to target overseas players who try to exert influence on organisations and individuals in Australia. Roger Maynard reports from Sydney.