Australia: Chinese defector fears for life

"1,000 spies operating in Australia"

This morning's report reprinted in full with apologies to AM because I think it's so important to get the story noticed in Australia and overseas. Not only did Amanda 'Amandatory Detention' Vanstone's Immigration Department authorities not grant Mr Chen asylum, they dobbed him in to the Chinese authorities. Such is the Howard Government's desire to get as many Chinese trade millions as possible -- for uranium, coal, iron ore and much more -- for their mates at the big end of town. Keep your eyes on this story, I don't think it'll go away as fast as Johnny Howard hopes.

TONY EASTLEY: The defection of a foreign diplomat in Australia is rare, and perhaps not since the Petrov affair in the 1950s has one attracted so much public attention.

37-year-old Chen Yong Lin walked out of the Chinese consulate in Sydney more than a week ago, and he now wants political asylum. He's also spoken publicly, claiming there are up to 1,000 Chinese spies operating in Australia. China says Chen is lying because he doesn't want to return home when his posting expires.

While Mr Chen will meet a lawyer in Sydney this morning, the Federal Government is saying little about his case, only that it will be considered on its merits.

From Canberra, Kim Landers reports.

KIM LANDERS: For 11 days Chinese diplomat Chen Yong Lin has been on the run, moving constantly between Sydney, Wollongong and Gosford, rarely staying more than one night in the same place.

Mr Chen defected from his senior post at the Chinese consulate in Sydney, claiming his Government has up to 1,000 spies operating in Australia who've been kidnapping Chinese nationals.

He's relayed his extraordinary claims to Chin Jin, the Australian head of the Federation for a Democratic China – an organisation set up after the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Chin Jin spent most of yesterday with Mr Chen.

CHIN JIN: He feels ok now, he feels a bit safer than previous days.

KIM LANDERS: Why is that?

CHIN JIN: After his media, public exposure and a lot of media coverage and being with us he feels a bit safer.

KIM LANDERS: A statement from China's consulate in Sydney says Mr Chen had reached the end of his four-year stint in Australia and has now, quote, "fabricated stories which are unfounded and purely fictitious", unquote, to try to stay here.

This morning Mr Chen will see a lawyer for the first time. He's told those who are now helping him that the Immigration Department rejected his application for political asylum, advising him instead to apply for a protection visa.

Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says his application will be considered on its merits.

But immigration lawyer David Mann believes it's Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, not the Immigration Department, who may hold the key to Mr Chen's case.

DAVID MANN: Look, there's a very rare visa under the migration legislation called a territorial asylum visa. It's commonly known as political asylum, and it's granted generally by the minister, usually in fact the Foreign Minister.

Now, that shouldn't be confused with refugee status, it's different, but presumably it's for people who are in public positions, high public positions, for instance politicians or diplomats, who need protection in Australia.

KIM LANDERS: Is this visa commonly handed out?

DAVID MANN: As far as I'm aware, there've only really been a handful of visas granted on this basis in the last 45 years.

KIM LANDERS: Mr Chen has confessed to monitoring the Falun Gong movement in Australia, but now says he sympathises with them.

Falun Gong member Kay Rubacek admits to being shocked by Mr Chen's public about face.

KAY RUBACEK: It's really one of the first to come out in a foreign country outside of China, so really it seems to be a real breakthrough on an international level, not just in Australia, because this has been happening all around the world for the past few years.

KIM LANDERS: Had your members been aware of Mr Chen's operations?

KAY RUBACEK: Yes, we've seen Mr Chen on many occasions over the past few years at the Chinese consulate and at specific Falun Gong activities, photographing or monitoring it on many occasions.

KIM LANDERS: Mr Chen's claims come at a delicate time in Australia-China relations. Negotiations for a multi-billion dollar trade deal are underway, and there are also talks to sell Australian uranium to China. Chin Jin is urging the Australian Government to keep the issues separate.

CHIN JIN: I think Australia should look at the national interest, and also look at the value of democracy.

TONY EASTLEY: Chin Jin from the Federation for a Democratic China, ending that report from Kim Landers.