On May 28th (Tuesday), Eric, a former secret police officer of the Chinese Communist Party who fled to Australia, participated in the “Defend Australia Summit” in Canberra, attended by Australian Defense Minister and senior officials. Eric’s revelations about the issue of Chinese Communist spies in Australia became the focal point of the security forum.
Eric, in an interview with Epoch Times on May 29th, revealed that the event he was invited to in Canberra was organized by a news group, focusing on defending Australia. He was surprised by the high caliber of the event and the presence of many officials.
According to reports by Australia’s Channel Nine, the meeting was organized by The Australian newspaper, with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and military leaders in attendance.
During the forum, Eric’s responses to journalists’ questions drew attention from mainstream Australian media, including Channel Nine and The Australian, focusing on Chinese Communist spies in Australia, totaling over 1200, including professional agents.
Eric explained to Epoch Times, “The Ministry of Public Security alone assigns agents from nine to ten provincial bureaus permanently throughout the year. Each provincial bureau in a country has about two to three agents. So, altogether, there are about thirty agents in Australia from the provincial bureaus, and with the central units, around fifty to sixty agents from the Ministry of Public Security are in Australia, with similar numbers from the State Security Department, adding up to over a hundred. I’m not very familiar with the military, so estimates may vary, and then there are about two hundred spies who have been turned against Australia. ”
Regarding the Chinese Communist spies turned against Australia, he believed that many were coordinated by the United Front Work Department at the consulates.
Eric further stated, “State-owned enterprises like Xinhua News Agency are not genuine cover companies, just basic covers. Most Chinese companies with links are the most secretive, pretending not to be Chinese companies.”
Regarding the Chinese Communist Party’s journalists who have been stationed overseas, Eric believed that some were recruited by the regime as spies, but not all of them were, as some pursued journalistic ideals and distanced themselves from the Party.
He added that within the special agent system, many individuals have grown disillusioned with the CCP, making it difficult for them to leave. Those who cannot leave either have to pretend to be apathetic or endure imprisonment if they oppose the Party.
During the summit, Eric’s assigned translator left abruptly, and a Chinese Australian journalist named Cheng Lei was arranged as his new translator.
Cheng Lei, a Chinese Australian journalist who was released from detention in China and returned to Australia in October last year, remarked that the reaction to the translator epitomized a profound and widespread fear, which needs to be guarded against.
Australian Defense Minister Marles acknowledged at the summit that there is increased anxiety over recent large-scale military exercises by China in the Taiwan Strait. The significant defense advancements of the new superpower China pose a challenge to Australia.
Marles reiterated the importance of Australia’s national defense strategy, including acquiring nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS treaty.
He also admitted that the Australian federal government aims to sustain the most effective relationship with China, balancing the challenges that come with stabilizing ties with the country.
Meanwhile, Eric emphasized during the summit, “China is not a friend. Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran have aligned. Western nations should be vigilant.”
Eric, a former operative of the Political Security Department of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, fled to Australia last October and submitted over a hundred pieces of information to the Australian intelligence agency, exposing the CCP’s overseas pursuit of dissidents among other activities.