Australia has formally named China in a court document as the foreign state under investigation by police in the nation`s first foreign interference investigation.

A document lodged in the High Court on September 1 by the Australian Government Solicitor is the first official acknowledgement that the ongoing investigation into an alleged plot to influence an Australian politician centred on China.

The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation have refused to comment on whether a raid on the offices of a New South Wales state politician and his staffer on June 26 was related to China, although it was widely believed to be.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/raiding-of-chinese-journalists-in-australia-utterly-appalling-says-state-chinese-media-327025">Also read:&nbsp;Raiding of Chinese journalists in Australia 'utterly appalling', says state Chinese media</a>

The court filing states the search warrant used by police "expressly identifies the foreign principal as the 'Government of the People`s Republic of China (PRC)."

John Zhang,who worked for NSW Labor politician Shaoquett Moselmane, has asked the High Court to quash the search warrants used to search his home, business and Moselmane`s parliament office.

The government`s defence document, signed off by Australia`s Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue, was lodged with the court the day after the government warned Australian journalists working in China to leave for safety reasons.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-spying-on-millions-around-the-world-by-harvesting-personal-details-from-the-dark-web-327896">Also read:&nbsp;China spying on millions around the world by harvesting personal details from the dark web</a>

In the government`s response on September 1, the government solicitor states there is "no doubt that the suspected offences related to the plaintiff`s dealings with the Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, allegedly on behalf of the People`s Republic of China (PRC), from about 1 July 2019 to about 25 June 2020, in order to advance the interests and policy goals of the PRC".

The Chinese government has said ASIO also searched four Chinese journalists in Australia in June.

Australia`s foreign interference law criminalised harmful or covert conduct by foreign principals who seek to interfere in the country`s democratic processes to support their own intelligence activities or prejudice Australia`s national security, the court document said.

On Wednesday, the Chinese consulate general in Sydney responded angrily to an Australian Broadcasting Corp report that said one of its officials was also named in the search warrants.

"The accusations that the Consulate General and its official engaged in infiltration activities are totally baseless and nothing but vicious slanders," the statement said.

Australia has formally named China in a court document as the foreign state under investigation by police in the nation`s first foreign interference investigation.

Australia has formally named China in a court document as the foreign state under investigation by police in the nation`s first foreign interference investigation. A document lodged in the High Court on September 1 by the Australian Government Solicitor is the first official acknowledgement that the ongoing investigation into an alleged plot to influence an Australian politician centred on China. The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation have refused to comment on whether a raid on the offices of a New South Wales state politician and his staffer on June 26 was related to China, although it was widely believed to be. Also read: Raiding of Chinese journalists in Australia 'utterly appalling', says state Chinese media The court filing states the search warrant used by police "expressly identifies the foreign principal as the 'Government of the People`s Republic of China (PRC)." John Zhang,who worked for NSW Labor politician Shaoquett Moselmane, has asked the High Court to quash the search warrants used to search his home, business and Moselmane`s parliament office. The government`s defence document, signed off by Australia`s Solicitor-General Stephen Donaghue, was lodged with the court the day after the government warned Australian journalists working in China to leave for safety reasons. Also read: China spying on millions around the world by harvesting personal details from the dark web In the government`s response on September 1, the government solicitor states there is "no doubt that the suspected offences related to the plaintiff`s dealings with the Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, allegedly on behalf of the People`s Republic of China (PRC), from about 1 July 2019 to about 25 June 2020, in order to advance the interests and policy goals of the PRC". The Chinese government has said ASIO also searched four Chinese journalists in Australia in June. Australia`s foreign interference law criminalised harmful or covert conduct by foreign principals who seek to interfere in the country`s democratic processes to support their own intelligence activities or prejudice Australia`s national security, the court document said. On Wednesday, the Chinese consulate general in Sydney responded angrily to an Australian Broadcasting Corp report that said one of its officials was also named in the search warrants. "The accusations that the Consulate General and its official engaged in infiltration activities are totally baseless and nothing but vicious slanders," the statement said.

Australian government lawyer names China in interference investigation

Kremlin&nbsp;on Friday said that it was not Russia that unleashed diplomatic war with the West following the mass expulsion of US envoys.

New agency AFP quoted President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling journalists that "Russia did not unleash any diplomatic war."

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A Kremlin spokesman said: "Russian President Vladimir Putin still favours mending ties with other countries, despite a decision to expel scores of Western diplomats."&nbsp;

The spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said he disagreed with the US government's assessment that Russia's decision to expel 60 U.S. diplomats showed Moscow was not interested in diplomacy.

He also added,&nbsp;"Russia never initiated any exchange of sanctions."

Meanwhile, Russia expelled two Dutch diplomats over spy poisoning, Dutch envoy told Russian TASS news agency.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-action-to-expel-60-us-diplomats-marks-further-deterioration-in-bilateral-ties-white-house-127156">White House </a>&nbsp;reacting to the mass expulsion had said that "Russia's decision to&nbsp;<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/world/russia-to-expel-60-american-diplomats-close-consulate-in-st-petersburg-foreign-minister-lavrov-127144">expel 60 American diplomats and order closer to the US Consulate</a>&nbsp;in St Petersburg marks a further deterioration in bilateral ties".

Russia on Thursday announced expulsion of 60 American diplomats and decided to close the consulate in Saint Petersburg in a retaliatory move&nbsp;against coordinated moves by Britain and its allies over spy poisoning in the&nbsp;UK.

Trump administration had announced last week that it has expelled 60 Russian diplomats and decided to shutdown the consulate in Seattle.

Russian ambassador Sergey Lavrov said that the US ambassador had been informed of "retaliatory measures".

"They include the expulsion of the equivalent number of diplomats and our decision to withdraw permission for the functioning of the US consulate general in Saint Petersburg," Lavrov said.

"The measures would be reciprocal ... They include expulsion of the equivalent number of diplomats and they include our decision to withdraw our agreement to allow the United States' general consulate to operate in St. Petersburg," Lavrov added.

The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had earlier said the charges against Russia that it was behind the poisoning of an ex-spy in Salisbury, UK was "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/spy-poisoning-row-charges-politically-motivated-says-russia-127094">politically motivated</a>".

"We have answered all the questions raised by UK," the Russian foreign minister had said at a press conference in Moscow.

&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mwa3XoYI10s" width="560"></iframe>

President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists 'Russia did not unleash any diplomatic war' adding 'Russia never initiated any exchange of sanctions'

Kremlin on Friday said that it was not Russia that unleashed diplomatic war with the West following the mass expulsion of US envoys. New agency AFP quoted President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov telling journalists that "Russia did not unleash any diplomatic war." Also read: Poisoned former Russian spy Skripal's daughter is no longer critical A Kremlin spokesman said: "Russian President Vladimir Putin still favours mending ties with other countries, despite a decision to expel scores of Western diplomats." The spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said he disagreed with the US government's assessment that Russia's decision to expel 60 U.S. diplomats showed Moscow was not interested in diplomacy. He also added, "Russia never initiated any exchange of sanctions." Meanwhile, Russia expelled two Dutch diplomats over spy poisoning, Dutch envoy told Russian TASS news agency. The White House reacting to the mass expulsion had said that "Russia's decision to expel 60 American diplomats and order closer to the US Consulate in St Petersburg marks a further deterioration in bilateral ties". Russia on Thursday announced expulsion of 60 American diplomats and decided to close the consulate in Saint Petersburg in a retaliatory move against coordinated moves by Britain and its allies over spy poisoning in the UK. Trump administration had announced last week that it has expelled 60 Russian diplomats and decided to shutdown the consulate in Seattle. Russian ambassador Sergey Lavrov said that the US ambassador had been informed of "retaliatory measures". "They include the expulsion of the equivalent number of diplomats and our decision to withdraw permission for the functioning of the US consulate general in Saint Petersburg," Lavrov said. "The measures would be reciprocal ... They include expulsion of the equivalent number of diplomats and they include our decision to withdraw our agreement to allow the United States' general consulate to operate in St. Petersburg," Lavrov added. The Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had earlier said the charges against Russia that it was behind the poisoning of an ex-spy in Salisbury, UK was "politically motivated". "We have answered all the questions raised by UK," the Russian foreign minister had said at a press conference in Moscow.

President Putin still favours mending ties with other countries despite expulsion of diplomats: Kremlin

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. 
 
The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India&#39;s membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. &quot;We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly,&quot; she said. 
 
Diplomatic sources here say that the China&#39;s commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. 
 
Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. 
 
While India&#39;s home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing &#39;Kashmir&#39;s Accession to Pakistan Day&#39; and &#39;Black Day&#39;. 
 
The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past &quot;protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan&quot;. 
 
In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. 
 
Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. 
 
The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. 
 
Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi&#39;s patience to limits. 
 
In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop &quot;misleading&quot; the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir&nbsp;and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. &quot;We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner.&quot; 
 
&quot;In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan,&quot; the statement concluded. 
 
In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. 
 
He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. 
 
Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India&#39;s internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. 
 
Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. &quot;It does not need to worry about Muslims in India,&quot; he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee&#39;s poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. 
 
In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards &quot;Indian brutalities&quot; and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). 
 
(WION) 
&nbsp;

Islamabad wants UN to send fact-finding mission to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, China comments on the situation

After a lull of almost 22 years, India and Pakistan have returned to fight on Kashmir on the diplomatic turf, with China also muddying waters, dropping its usual reticence and unilaterally commenting on the violence in the region. The situation in Kashmir has also come handy for China to hit down its relations with India.After opposing India's membership at the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang in a usual departure said Beijing was concerned at the situation in the state od Jammu and Kashmir. "We are equally concerned about the casualties in the clash, and hope that the relevant incident will be handled properly," she said. Diplomatic sources here say that the China's commentary on Kashmir and its stand at the NSG was rooted in re-hyphenating India with Pakistan as well as claiming the sole ownership of being the Asian power. Last time, Pakistan had attempted a major diplomatic move on Kashmir in March 1994, by pushing the grouping of Islamic countries and some Western nations to sponsor a resolution at the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) against India. While India's home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest, ministry of external affairs (MEA) also hit out at Islamabad for observing 'Kashmir's Accession to Pakistan Day' and 'Black Day'. The MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop asked the world to take note that rallies and events over past two days in Pakistan were led by UN-designated terrorists. These groups in the past "protested the elimination of dreaded terrorists, including Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Akhtar Mansour, in Pakistan". In Pakistan, Sartaj Aziz, adviser to prime minister Nawaz Sharif, announced that his country will approach the UNCHR on its own behalf and on behalf of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) contact group on Kashmir to demand sending a fact-finding mission to Kashmir and also to impose a ban on the use of pellet guns for dispersing people exercising their right to protest. Last time, Pakistan burnt its fingers at the UNCHR in 1994, when India succeeded in prevailing upon Iran to abstain at the OIC session from voting, and thereby failing the consensus required to back the resolution. The joint OIC resolution, backed by some Western nations, was supposed to be put before the UNCHR, which if approved was to be referred to the UN Security Council for initiating economic sanctions and other punitive measures against India. That was also the last time Pakistan tried to get a resolution on the Kashmir issue tabled in a UN forum. Since the latest flare-up in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Indian leadership at the highest level had decided to ignore incessant provocation and statements from Pakistan, terming them as political compulsions of Nawaz Sharif government in the wake of assembly elections in the PoK. But the rallies of jihadis in Pakistan seem to have pushed New Delhi's patience to limits. In a strong recrimination, India also urged Islamabad to stop "misleading" the international community and Kashmiris through meaningless exercises. In a statement, the spokesperson asked Pakistan to fulfill its obligation to vacate illegal occupation of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and refrain from its deplorable meddling in internal affairs in any manner. "We once again ask Pakistan to stop inciting and supporting violence and terrorism in any part of our country and refrain from its deplorable meddling in our internal affairs in any manner." "In view of the threats of marches and protests at the High Commission of India in Islamabad, we ask the government of Pakistan to ensure full safety and security of the High Commission, all its officials and their families in Pakistan," the statement concluded. In the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, interior minister Rajnath Singh categorically blamed Pakistan for the unrest in the Kashmir saying that the terrorism in the Valley is Pakistan-sponsored. He said the neighbouring country, instead of fixing its internal matters, is trying to destabilise India. He also took strong exception for observing Black Day in Pakistan after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, who was involved in various heinous crimes and activities. Stating that Pakistan has no right to interfere in India's internal matters, he said it was doing so to deflect attention from its failures as the people there were fighting along sectarian lines. Training guns further, he said the country came into being in the name of religion, but failed to keep the Muslims together and underwent a division. "It does not need to worry about Muslims in India," he said and invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's poem to suggest that those who fuel fire in the homes of others get caught in the same blaze. In Islamabad, Aziz promised every possible effort to draw international attention towards "Indian brutalities" and to resolve the dispute. He also said he has shot off letters to the UN secretary general, president of the Security Council, OIC secretary general, UN high commissioner for Human Rights and the foreign ministers of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir (Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Turkey). (WION)

India, Pakistan in diplomatic war on Kashmir issue, China muddies waters

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