WeChat official account "Ministry of State Security" published a commentary on August 15 titled "Australia's Intelligence Agencies Should Not Fabricate Issues for Themselves."
The full text is as follows:
Recently, the head of Australia's intelligence and security agencies delivered a public speech, falsely claiming that "espionage activities" from several countries, including China, pose an "obvious" serious threat to Australia. This act by Australia of fabricating and hyping up the "Chinese espionage threat" reflects the unwillingness of some forces within Australia to see the healthy and stable development of Sino-Australian relations, and their tendency to create problems out of nothing and fabricate hype. This malicious speculation based on self-imagery and baseless paranoid delusions is not only an old-fashioned "gray filter" towards China, but also reveals Australia's excessive anxiety about its own security. Australia is overthinking.
Australia is the only country in the world that occupies an entire continent, and one of the few sovereign states without land neighbors, enjoying a unique geographical environment that could allow it to take a detached stance and focus on its own development. However, as a member of the Five Eyes Alliance, Australia's intelligence agencies like to get involved in great power disputes, support and assist certain countries in conducting global intelligence theft, which is annoying and disliked. In terms of China, Australia often engages in small tricks, frequently makes unfounded complaints, feels guilty, suspects others of stealing, and has unwarranted suspicions toward other countries. Australia's defamation and smear campaign against China will only cause a loss of moral authority in the international community. It cannot damage China's image as a responsible major country upholding justice, and it is futile for Australia's own security interests.
Since 2009, China has been Australia's largest trading partner, source of imports, and market for exports for 16 consecutive years, promoting the continuous healthy development of Sino-Australian relations, which is in line with Australia's national interests. At present, with the joint efforts of both sides, Sino-Australian relations have gradually recovered from the low point and achieved a turnaround, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. However, for a period of time, some politicians in Australia have shown no improvement in their "fear of China" and "anti-China" obsession, frequently taking negative actions and making wrong statements on issues related to China, deviating from the correct direction pointed out by the leaders of the two countries. In the context of the era where Sino-Australian relations are further developing in a positive direction, they continue to cling to the wrong concepts of stigmatizing and demonizing China, and persist in negative hype and the fabrication of the false narrative of the "Chinese espionage threat." This kind of fabricated issue creation can only be laughed at in the world.
Ironclad facts have proven that in the field of international covert struggles, Australia's intelligence agencies have never played the role of victims. In recent years, China's national security agencies have lawfully cracked multiple cases of espionage against China instigated by Australia's intelligence agencies, effectively safeguarding China's sovereignty, security, and development interests. This time, Australia's intelligence agencies have claimed that foreign espionage activities pose a "serious threat" to Australia, even using baseless accusations of the "Chinese espionage threat" to portray themselves as innocent "victims." Apart from some groundless assumptions and sensational speculations, there is absolutely no factual evidence. The performance of Australia's intelligence agencies this time may be a case of taking risks for others, or perhaps it is another forced assignment, but in any case, it appears irrational and unprofessional.
Rumors end with the wise, and facts speak louder than words. As a responsible major country, China always adheres to the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, promoting the realization of international common security. On the new starting point of the second decade of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia, both sides should continue to enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation, widely cultivate people's friendship, jointly cope with risks and challenges, and provide more stability and certainty to the international community through practical security cooperation in the same direction.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7538680371785826826/
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