Photo:VCG

 
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, a foreign affairs agency set up by the Australian government, should not allow anti-China activists to join in the foundation and urged it to correct its mistakes and show sincerity after reports said that members of the foundation were found to receive financial backing by the US government and have ties with illegal cult.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Wednesday that if Australia really wants the foundation to play a positive role in enhancing mutual trust and promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, it should not allow certain anti-China activists to get into the foundation.

"This is not in line with the purpose and original intention of the foundation and sends out a serious wrong signal," Wang said.

China hopes that Australia will correct its mistakes, show sincerity and do more things that are conducive to mutual trust and cooperation between China and Australia, rather than doing the opposite.

"We noticed that some media reports exposed some anti-China institutions and individuals in Australia have received financial support from the US government. He urged Australia to face up to objective facts, discard double standards and ideological bias on so-called "anti-foreign intervention" and "foreign influence transparency," and refrain from political manipulation, selective and discriminatory practices.

The remarks came after the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday that two board members of the foundation recently appointed by an Australian senator receive financial backing from the US government. 

One of them, Maree Ma, also runs a Chinese-language newspaper with a strong editorial leaning against the Communist Party of China (CPC). 

The report said evidence shows that the publication is closely affiliated with the illegal cult Falun Gong.