The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has confirmed it is investigating claims a Chinese espionage ring tried to install an agent for Beijing in a seat in Federal Parliament.
On Sunday ASIO issued a statement in response to the allegations reported by Fairfax and 60 Minutes over the weekend:
Earlier Liberal MP Andrew Hastie told 60 Minutes the claims were “significant” and “Australians should be very concerned”.
WATCH:
#60Mins can reveal that, before his death, Nick Zhao, claims he was approached by a Chinese intelligence officer in Melbourne with an extraordinary assignment. He was promised a 7-figure sum in exchange for running as a political candidate for Federal parliament. pic.twitter.com/YEpZA3AZcd
— 60 Minutes Australia (@60Mins) November 24, 2019
According to Fairfax:
“[A] suspected Chinese intelligence group offered a million dollars to pay for the political campaign of Liberal Party member and Melbourne luxury car dealer Bo “Nick” Zhao, 32, to run for an eastern suburbs seat. The plot appears to be part of an operation to place a Chinese agent in Parliament.
“Mr Zhao disclosed the alleged approach to ASIO about a year ago, according to his associates and multiple Western security sources, and he identified the man he says approached him as another Melbourne businessman, Brian Chen…
“In March this year, Mr Zhao was found dead in a Melbourne motel room. Local police who have prepared a brief for the coroner have been unable to conclude how he died.”
