A counter-espionage raid on a retired intelligence officer’s flat in Canberra has unearthed secret government documents, raising concerns about the extent of Chinese spying in Australia.
The papers contained details of what western agencies knew about Chinese intelligence operations and they would be valuable to Beijing’s spymasters.
The flat belongs to Roger Uren, who was an intelligence official and diplomat once tipped to become ambassador in Beijing. He lived with his Chinese wife, Sheri Yan, who was jailed in the US last year for bribing John Ashe, who was president of the UN general assembly.
Mr Uren worked for the Office of National Assessments which briefs the prime minister on sensitive intelligence and strategic matters.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation mounted the raid after a tip-off that Mr Uren’s wife was connected to Chinese Communist Party intelligence services. The search of the flat took place 19 months ago to coincide with Ms Yan’s arrest in New York for bribing Mr Ashe. She was given a 20-month jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to paying more than $800,000 to Mr Ashe in bribes. No charges have been laid against Mr Uren and security officers are still trying to find out why the papers were in his flat.