- In short: A former Chinese spy has disclosed his past identity, revealing how the Chinese government targets dissidents overseas.
- What happens next? “Four Corners” can reveal that a Chinese intelligence agency was still operating in Sydney last year, and investigations into it are ongoing.
In an investigation by “Four Corners,” a former spy has exposed the inner workings of China’s notorious secret police department and how it tracks dissidents overseas, including in Australia, raising serious questions about Australian national security.
This marks the first public disclosure by members of the most frightening and powerful department within China’s intelligence apparatus—the secret police.
The investigation also uncovered that this department conducted a spy operation on Australian soil last year and a resident secretly returned to China in 2019.
Spy Speak Out
This spy is named Eric and worked undercover in a department of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, the country’s national police and security agency, from 2008 to the early 2023s.
Eric served as a spy for a duration of 15 years within a department known as the Political Security Bureau, abbreviated as “one bureau.” It is one of the primary tools of repression by the Chinese Communist Party, conducting operations globally to surveil, abduct, and silence individuals critical of the party, particularly Chairman Xi Jinping.
“This is the darkest department of the Chinese government,” Eric remarked. “When dealing with those opposed to the Chinese Communist Party, they can act as if these individuals are not protected by the law. They can do whatever they want to them.”
For the safety of the 38-year-old individual, “Four Corners” program decided not to disclose Eric’s full name and the identity of his contact within the secret police.
Eric fled China and arrived in Australia last year, where he disclosed his past to the Australian domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). ASIO declined to comment on the matter.
“In Australia’s secret agents.”
In 2023, the Australian Federal Police raided a location in Sydney and uncovered a Chinese espionage operation targeting Australian residents.
One of the individuals targeted in this operation was Edwin Yin, a political activist whose online videos directly criticized Chairman Xi and his daughter.
Mr. Yin moved to Australia in 2018.
Following the raid, the Australian Federal Police had a conversation with Mr. Yin.
“They told me… they had conducted an operation and dismantled an intelligence agency in Australia,” he said.
“Then they obtained some materials, all of which were traces left by the Chinese Communist Party in Australia through this intelligence agency in search of me.”
According to “Four Corners,” the investigation by the Australian Federal Police is still ongoing.
In 2021, Mr. Yin was attacked in Melbourne, resulting in a broken nose. Mr. Yin believes that the two men who attacked him, along with a third man filming him, were Chinese government agents.
“I feel unsafe in Australia,” he said.
In 2021, surveillance footage captured Mr. Yin’s attack.
Eric was instructed in 2018 to lure Mr. Yin to Southeast Asia while he was in Australia.
Eric told “Four Corners” that he has no doubt that Chinese secret agents are currently active in Australia and that they rely on a network composed of supportive organizations and businesses.
“In the respective area, there needs to be a support system so that when secret agents come to that place, they can obtain some support,” he said.
“They definitely have a support system in Australia.”
China stated that it is seeking to repatriate Mr. Yin due to multiple allegations of financial fraud. “Four Corners” interviewed a purported victim of Mr. Yin who insisted that these accusations are true.
Mr. Yin claims he is being framed.
China’s Global Influence
Counterintelligence experts state that “political security” is the most concerning aspect of China’s vast spy network.
Holden Triplett, who formerly led the FBI’s Beijing office and thus frequently interacted with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, remarked, “The Ministry of Public Security portrays itself as a police force… but they are far from that.”
“Their job is to protect the party’s position… and by position, I mean control… the party must maintain control.”
Under Xi Jinping’s rule, this control has become even more stringent. Since Xi Jinping became China’s leader in 2012, he has restructured China’s security and intelligence apparatus, strengthening the Party’s control over overseas Chinese communities.
Mr. Triplett stated, “Now they are heavily engaged in world affairs, and they need resources from various places.”
“So, anyone in China or among overseas Chinese… as long as they could pose a threat to the Party’s control… they are subjects for investigation, opposition, and if necessary, destruction.”
The Ministry of Public Security collaborates with other departments of China’s national security, including the Ministry of State Security, the external intelligence agency of China, and the United Front Work Department, the primary department for the CCP’s external influence.
Community Organizations
Espionage
The United Front Work Department’s task is to enhance China’s influence overseas, and nearly all countries with a large Chinese population—including Australia—have community groups associated with the United Front Work Department.
Peter Mattis, a former CIA analyst, said, “United Front work is where the snakes hide in the grass.”
“The Ministry of Public Security is one of those snakes.”
Since 2014, Xi Jinping has utilized his anti-corruption campaigns “Operation Fox Hunt” and “Sky Net” to repatriate over 12,000 alleged fugitives to China. Many were repatriated through covert operations without the knowledge or consent of local governments.
Repatriation of Citizens
As part of “Operation Fox Hunt,” in 2014, two Chinese police officers secretly entered Australia to pursue and repatriate a Melbourne bus driver. The incident was made public the following year, triggering a significant diplomatic event, and the Chinese government promised that such incidents would not occur again.
In 2019, Chinese officials once again came to Australia and brought back a 59-year-old Australian resident to China.
“The Ministry of Public Security sent officials… to Australia to have a so-called heart-to-heart talk with a woman, and then persuaded her to return,” said Laura Harth, director of activities at the human rights non-governmental organization Safeguard Defenders.
“They utilize (the Australian) Chinese consulate and embassy to assist them.”
“Four Corners” has confirmed that the Australian Federal Police did indeed approve the visit in 2019, but Chinese officials did not adhere to the agreed-upon agreement, and the woman was sent back to China without the approval of the Australian Federal Police.
Last month, Safeguard Defenders released a report documenting over 280 cases of foreign citizens and residents being repatriated to China. These individuals were accused of economic crimes.
According to this report, which relies on information from Chinese state media, at least 16 individuals were successfully extradited from Australia between 2014 and 2023, with four occurring last year.
Ms. Harth said, “These successful actions—even the failed ones—are clearly infringing on Australia’s sovereignty.”
A female spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) stated, “The AFP would never support or assist foreign agencies in intimidating or coercing foreign citizens to return to their country.”
She added, “Under Australian law, this is a criminal offense.”
“Threatening multicultural and linguistic communities or any other individuals within Australia by a foreign government or its representatives is criminal conduct. This includes harassment, surveillance, intimidation, and other coercive measures.”
A spokesperson for the Australian government stated that countering foreign malign interference is “of utmost importance.”
“Australia’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies assess, investigate, disrupt, and, where possible, prosecute acts of foreign interference.”
“The Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce led by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is actively investigating a range of cases of foreign interference.”
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Australia and the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to requests for comment.