Australia rejects Chinese defector

[bemildred]

A Chinese diplomat's attempt to defect to Australia and explosive claims about Beijing's espionage activities has cast a shadow over Canberra's attempts to negotiate a free trade deal with China.

Chen Yonglin, 37, worked as a diplomat at the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney until he walked away from the mission last month to seek political asylum in Australia.

In an interview published Monday, Chen claimed his application for political asylum was rejected by Canberra within just 24 hours and without his meeting any senior government officials.

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Among claims Chen has made about China are that Beijing has up to 1,000 spies operating in Australia and has sent agents to abduct Chinese nationals and repatriate them. He has produced no evidence to back up the allegations.

rediff

[expatriot]

1. ouch....

I am the Party will welcome him back as a hero. Also, he will soon see if his claims that China has agents to abduct Chinese nationals and repatriate them is true.