MOFA: Australian media claims on Chinese billionaire a 'hearsay'

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01:17

China on Tuesday dismissed as "hearsay" media reports that claimed Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo tried to buy Australian citizenship by paying thousands of dollars, while also rejecting insinuations that Beijing is meddling in Canberra's domestic politics.

"We have noted that certain Australian media have built up their stories on hearsay or on nothing at all regarding this issue recently. To be frank, we are not interested in putting in too much efforts and resources to comment on each and every one of them," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang told reporters at a press conference in Beijing.

"We hope that the relevant media could report on China's policy and China-Australia relations in an objective and unbiased way. We also believe that any responsible Australian, including those in the political sector, is able to make responsible judgments," he added.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang addresses a press conference in Beijing, April 9, 2019. /Photo via China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Chinese reaction came a day after Australia's national broadcaster ABC in a report alleged that Huang paid a lobbyist thousands of dollars for private access to Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. The report claimed the two met privately in 2016 to discuss facilitating Australian citizenship to the Chinese billionaire.

Dutton on Tuesday denied any wrongdoing describing the ABC report as "nonsense." "I have never received a dollar from this individual. I had one meeting with him over lunch. I have never seen him since," he told reporters.

The ABC report, along with other similar Australian media reports, linked Huang's case to China's alleged attempts of interference in Australia's domestic politics ahead of the federal election next month.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton leaves after a press conference in Canberra, Australia, August 21, 2018. /VCG Photo

The Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly refuted the allegations while reiterating its stated position of "non-interference in other countries' internal affairs."

"When we say that China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs, we mean every word of it. We maintain that all countries should strictly abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter in international affairs, and we oppose any country interfering in others' internal affairs under whatever pretexts," Lu stressed on Tuesday.

Huang's citizenship was eventually not only blocked but he was denied further entry into the country on the advice of Australian spy agencies earlier in February.

Even on that occasion, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had dismissed allegations of interference, demanding "that the Australian side could handle the relevant issues involving this Chinese citizen in a fair, just and non-discriminatory way."

Also in February, China refuted "baseless" and "irresponsible" Australian media reports that accused China of a "sophisticated" cyber-attack on Australian political parties and parliament amid allegations of Beijing meddling in Australia's domestic affairs.

In the lead-up to Australia's federal election, such allegations have seen a steep rise with political parties seeking to blame each other with an aim of reaping political dividend in the polls.

(Cover: A file photo of Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo in Sydney, Australia. /Photo via Huang Xiangmo)

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