The Chinese government on Wednesday accused Australia of "blatant irrational behaviour", harassment and violation of the rights of its journalists by searching and seizing items from the homes of four Chinese state media reporters.
The revelation of the Australian raids in late June is the latest barb in a deteriorating relationship between the two major trading partners, coming just a day after two Australian journalists flew home from China with the help of consular officials.
The flight of the two Australian journalists, from Beijing and Shanghai, after they were questioned by China's state security ministry gained international attention.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Australian officials cited a possible violation of the country's foreign interference laws for their raids in June, but had not provided a "reasonable explanation" for the searches.
"The Australian government's behaviour ... blatantly violates the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese journalists there and caused severe harm to the physical and mental health of the journalists and their families," Zhao said in a daily briefing. "We ask Australia to immediately stop such blatant irrational behaviors, stop harassing and oppressing Chinese personnel in Australia under whatever pretext."
Zhao said officials seized laptops, cellphones, and a child's toy tablet from the homes of reporters from outlets including state news agency Xinhua and the China News Service.
The Australian foreign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A spokesman for Australia's Attorney General Christian Porter declined to comment on "operational matters" when asked about an earlier report on the Australian raids by Xinhua, but added that authorities "take issues of foreign interference very seriously." The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) also declined to comment on the Xinhua report, in line with usual practice.
Xinhua reported the Chinese journalists were told to "be silent" about the incident, without detailing how many were questioned or citing sources for its report.
The Chinese embassy in Canberra said it had provided consular support to journalists, in response to a question about the raids.
Australia has a tense diplomatic relationship with China, which worsened this year after Beijing vowed trade reprisals and said it was angered by Australia's call for an international inquiry into the source of the coronavirus pandemic.
The two Australian journalists who arrived home from China on Tuesday had sought shelter in the embassy in Beijing and the consulate in Shanghai after police entered their homes a week ago and told them they were barred from leaving China.
They had been questioned in the case of Cheng Lei, an Australian journalist for Chinese state television who was detained in China three weeks ago. Chinese officials confirmed on Tuesday she was being held on suspicion of illegal activities that endanger China's security.
The departure of the two reporters leaves Australian media organisations with no correspondent in China for the first time since the 1970s.
AFP PROBE
The Xinhua report also criticised a search of the home and office of New South Wales state politician Shaoquett Moselmane on June 26, alleging he was targeted for his praise of China's achievements in fighting the coronavirus and criticising Australia's China policy.
Documents lodged in Australia's High Court on Aug. 3 show a staff member of Moselmane, John Zhang, is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police for allegedly acting on behalf of the Chinese state in "a private social media chat group" with Moselmane.
Moselmane has said he is not a suspect in the investigation, telling Australian Broadcasting Corp television last month that he participated in "just a social group", including "a couple of journalists, foreign journalists and one John Zhang".
Zhang has not been charged with any offence and his lawyers are seeking to have the search warrants quashed, according to the court documents.
Reuters
Wed Sep 09 2020
A combination still image taken from an ABC footage shows journalists Bill Birtles and Michael Smith talking to the media in Sydney, Australia, Sept. 8 2020. REUTERSpic
Kertas kabinet wujud sektor sukan dibentang dalam tempoh sebulan - Hannah
Hannah berkata dengan data yang lebih menyeluruh melibatkan sektor industri sukan nanti, pihaknya akan mampu merangsang pertumbuhan sukan di negara ini dengan lebih baik.
Tiga Syarikat Semikonduktor umum melabur di Pulau Pinang - Kon Yeow
Tiga syarikat semikonduktor dari China menyatakan komitmen untuk membuat pelaburan baharu di Pulau Pinang.
Pindaan garis panduan lawatan: Sekolah diharap susun semula program - Fadhlina
Semua sekolah diharap dapat menyusun semula program lawatan masing-masing berikutan pindaan Garis Panduan Lawatan Murid Sekolah pada tahun lepas bagi mengukuhkan pembelajaran di luar kelas, kata Menteri Pendidikan, Fadhlina Sidek.
Kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak dijaga sehingga tamat sekolah - KPM
Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia akan memastikan kebajikan pendidikan anak-anak 10 pegawai dan anggota Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia yang terkorban dalam nahas helikopter di Lumut, Perak, terus dijaga sehingga mereka tamat persekolahan.
Chegubard ditahan polis berkaitan hantaran mengenai kasino di Forest City
Chegubard ditahan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Dang Wangi di sini berkaitan hantaran mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City pada Sabtu.
Zahid minta pihak dalam BN buka "buku baharu"
Ahmad Zahid menegaskan senario politik tanah air sudah berubah dan terdapat banyak video lama dari parti lawan yang meminta pengundi menyokong DAP.
Malaysia kongsi pengalaman dalam usaha berterusan mempertahan Palestin
Delegasi negara akan berkongsikan peranan Malaysia dalam usaha berterusan mempertahankan nasib Palestin dalam Persidangan Liga Parlimen Al-Quds kelima yang berlangsung di Istanbul, Turki pada Sabtu.
Universiti Malaya mohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia
Jabatan Pengajian Antarabangsa dan Strategik, Universiti Malaya memohon maaf kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia berhubung kenytaaan tidak bertanggungjawab Profesor Dr Bruce Gilley pada 24 April lalu.
Genting Malaysia nafi terbabit perbincangan
Selepas Berjaya Corporation Bhd dan Kerajaan Negeri Johor, kini Genting Malaysia Bhd pula menafikan sebarang penglibatan dalam perbincangan mengenai pengoperasian kasino di Forest City, Johor.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Sabtu, 27 April 2024.
Serangan dron Iran tidak akan berlaku sekiranya Israel berhenti seksa rakyat Palestin - Pakar
Serangan dron oleh Iran ke atas Israel tidak akan berlaku sekiranya rejim Zionis itu menghentikan kedegilan dan kerakusan membunuh dan menyerang rakyat Palestin.
MITEC dinobat sebagai Pusat Konvensyen Terbaik Asia, Malaysia 2023 oleh World MICE Awards
Venue pertama dibina khas di Malaysia untuk mesyuarat, persidangan, pameran dan acara gaya hidup yang merangkul anugerah berprestij itu.
Bursa Malaysia lepasi paras 1,500 selepas setahun
FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) telah melepasi paras 1,500 mata.
Lebih 1,700 individu ditahan dalam operasi senjata Interpol di Asia
Lebih 1,700 suspek ditahan di 10 negara Asia dalam operasi besar-besaran terhadap penyeludupan senjata api haram, kata Interpol.
Pasaran saham global dijangka melonjak tahun depan - Goldman Sachs
Unjuran itu termasuk jangkaan pulangan harga lapan peratus dan jumlah pulangan kepada 10 peratus untuk saham global pada tahun depan.
Australia mahu layak awal ke Piala Dunia 2026
Australia terpaksa memenangi playoff menentang Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) untuk ke Qatar tahun lalu selepas terlepas kelayakan langsung.
Sukan skuasy dipertandingkan di Olimpik 2028
Skuasy bakal dipertandingkan di pentas Sukan Olimpik 2028 (LA28) selepas mendapat kelulusan Lembaga Eksekutif Jawatankuasa Olimpik Antarabangsa (IOC) dalam satu mesyuarat yang berlangsung di Mumbai.
Peruntukan RM30 juta bukti kerajaan mahu Malaysia jadi hab e-sukan diiktiraf
Ketua Yoodo Chow Tuck Mun berkata e-sukan dilihat semakin berkembang, malah terdapat banyak bakat tempatan dan pemain yang berjaya mencipta nama dalam sukan itu.
Malaysia antara peminum kopi terbanyak di Asia Pasifik
Rakyat Malaysia secara purata meminum 107 cawan kopi pada tahun 2021 berbanding hanya 52 cawan pada empat tahun sebelumnya.
Keberkesanan servis boleh jadi kunci rampas emas Thailand
Senjata yang diperlukan skuad negara untuk mengatasi Thailand adalah menerusi servis konsisten yang menghasilkan mata atau sekurang-kurangnya menyukarkan pemain lawan.