BEIJING (Reuters) – China has never interfered in other countries’ affairs nor does it have any interest in doing so, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday, in response to Australia charging the first person under its foreign interference law.
Wang Wenbin, spokesman with the ministry, was speaking to reporters at a regular news briefing in Beijing.
Australian police said a Melbourne man who appeared in court on Thursday was the first person charged with foreign interference under new legislation introduced in 2018.
The person holds senior positions in a number of Chinese community associations in the state of Victoria, including the Oceania Federation of Chinese Australians, and the Chinese Museum, according to organisation records seen by Reuters, websites and press statements.
Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Jacqueline Wong
