Chinese spymaster still in Australia, claims defector

SYDNEY- The spymaster of a 1000-strong network operating in Australia is still working out of China's diplomatic mission in Sydney, a former Chinese diplomat who worked in the office has said.

Chen Yonglin walked out of the Chinese consulate in Sydney in late May seeking asylum.

He claimed that Beijing had a network of 1000 spies and informants in Australia to monitor members of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which China banned in 1999 after branding it an evil cult.

Beijing has denied the allegations.

In an interview to be published in The Bulletin magazine on Wednesday, Chen said the spymaster worked in the office next door to him during his time as political affairs consul.

The man worked independently of the consul-general and had a budget of his own, the magazine said.

"Not too many in the consulate know who he is," Chen told the magazine.

"I know him because I contacted him often as consul for political affairs and attended the meetings where he is at in the consulate," he said in a copy of the story seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Chen's application for political asylum was denied, but he was granted a residency visa in July to allow him and his family to remain permanently in Australia.

That same month he gave evidence to a US congressional hearing in Washington, where he said that similar spy networks in the United States monitored and persecuted Falun Gong members.

The magazine said Chen and his wife had moved from safe house to safe house since they sought asylum, supported by fellow pro-democracy dissidents.

China's ambassador in Canberra, Madam Fu Ying, has said Australia's decision to grant Chen asylum had hurt its image. She said Chen was lying for personal gain.

A second Chinese man, former policeman Hao Fengjun, has told an Australian Senate inquiry he sought refuge in Australia in February, two days after he arrived to monitor Falun Gong members.

- REUTERS