Two Canberra residents alleged to be Chinese spies operated like high school students in their surveillance of a religious centre in Australia, a court has heard. The pair were allegedly gathering information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist group, under the direction of the public security bureau in China. They filed through Australian Securities and Investment Commission information about Canberra's Guan Yin Citta branch and its social media, he added. Previously another alleged Chinese spy operating in Australia, a woman who also cannot be named, was arrested at her home in late 2025. Officers accused the three of working together to gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta.

Source: Daily Mail February 12, 2026 21:38 UTC