Chinese Ministry of State Security

 
China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) issued a commentary article on Friday, warning Australian intelligence agencies not to exaggerate their actions.

The head of Australia's security intelligence agency recently delivered a speech, making unfounded claims that “espionage” activities from multiple countries, including China, pose a threat to Australia. According to the article posted on the MSS’s official WeChat account on Friday, this attempt to fabricate and hype a "Chinese espionage threat" reflects the unwillingness of certain forces in Australia to see a healthy and stable development of China-Australia relations, engaging in groundless speculation and sensationalism. 

Such malicious conjecture and unfounded victim mentality not only recycle the familiar narrative of viewing China through a "gray filter," but also expose Australia's "excessive anxiety" over its own security, said the article. Australia is really overthinking it, the article said.

Australia is the only country in the world that occupies an entire continent and is one of the few sovereign nations without land neighbors, enjoying a unique geographical advantage that could allow it to focus on its own development with a detached stance. However, as one of the Five Eyes Alliance countries, Australia’s intelligence agencies often take the initiative to get involved in great-power conflicts and assist certain countries in global intelligence-gathering activities, which is off-putting and unwelcome, said the article. 

In terms of relations with China, Australia is accustomed to engaging in "small tricks," frequently making baseless complaints, acting with a guilty conscience, and harbor unwarranted suspicions toward other nations. The article stated that Australia’s attempts to slander and smear China will only lead to a loss of moral standing in the international community, and will neither damage China's image as a responsible major country nor serve Australia's security interests.
 
Since 2009, China has been Australia's largest trading partner, top source of imports, and largest export market for 16 consecutive years, fostering the steady, healthy development of China-Australia relations, which aligns with Australia's national interests. Currently, with joint efforts, China-Australia relations have recently emerged from a low point and are on a path of recovery, bringing benefits to the peoples of both countries, the article noted. 

However, for some time now, the "China-phobia" and "anti-China" paranoia of certain Australian politicians have persisted, as they frequently adopt negative actions and false rhetoric regarding China, running counter to the direction set by the leaders of both countries. In the context of further advancing and improving China-Australia relations, they continue to cling to erroneous views that demonize and stigmatize China, fueling negative narratives and sensationalizing the fictitious "Chinese espionage threat." This kind of baseless "self-dramatization" can only invite ridicule from the world, the article said.

Ironclad facts show that in the realm of international covert struggles, Australian intelligence agencies have never been the victim. In recent years, Chinese national security authorities have lawfully uncovered multiple espionage cases orchestrated by Australian intelligence agencies against China, effectively safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests, the article said. 

The Australian security intelligence agency’s hype of the "serious threat" posed by foreign espionage activities, and their unfounded accusations of a "Chinese espionage threat," serve only to portray themselves as innocent "victims." Apart from some speculative assumptions and sensationalized conjectures, there is no factual basis or evidence to support their claims. This performance may be an attempt to take advantage of others' misfortunes or a forced exercise in rhetoric, but in any case, it appears lacking in rationality and professionalism, according to the article.

Rumors stop with the wise, and facts speak louder than words, said the MSS in the article. As a responsible major country, China has consistently upheld to a security vision that is common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable, working to advance of international common security, according to the MSS.

Global Times