Wang Liqiang

Wang Liqiang (Chinese: 王立强), or William Wang, is a Chinese defector to Australia and self-proclaimed former spy. In November 2019, Wang sought political asylum in Australia, claiming to be a spy who was involved in the People's Republic of China's intervention in the affairs of Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan. The factual accuracy of his claims is disputed, and some experts suggested he may not be more than a low-level operative.[1][2] China has claimed that Wang's allegations were "absurd" and that Wang is a "fraud".[3] Wang's case drew worldwide attention, leading to an investigation in Taiwan.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.
Wang Liqiang
Traditional Chinese王立強
Simplified Chinese王立强

In November 2021, Wang's main assertions regarding his involvement in building a "spy network" in Taiwan were discredited after Taiwan authority announced years-long investigation found no evidence to support the existence of such network or activity, and individuals that Wang accused as his associates or spy handlers were cleared of all national security charges due to "a lack of evidence".[4][5]

In January 2023, Wang became both barred from living in Australia and his asylum visa application being rejected, after an Australian tribunal ruling found him guilty of having committed "serious fraud against an Australian citizen".[6] The tribunal also expressed strong doubts of Wang's espionage claims and questioned how it could be safe to believe in them, given his past fraudulent activities.[7]

Investigation

Shanghai police stated that Wang is a convicted fraudster who left mainland China for Hong Kong on bogus travel documents. Online court records appear to confirm he had received a suspended sentence of 18 months from a Fujian court in October 2016.[8] Wang has denied these allegations.[9][10] The factual accuracy of these claims (of fraud) are disputed by Wang, because, according to ASPI's strategic analyst Alex Joske who participated in 60 Minutes's investigation of Wang, Wang claimed he obtained a police check which was clear of any such convictions when he applied for Australian visa.[11]

Wang claims that he was involved in the PRC government's operation to support pro-Beijing media outlets in Taiwan and candidates in the 2018 Taiwanese local elections, with the ultimate goal to prevent incumbent ROC President Tsai Ing-wen's re-election in 2020.[12] Wang also claimed to be involved in the abductions of the Causeway Bay Books booksellers in Hong Kong, although Lam Wing-kee, one of the abductees, does not recall meeting him and has reservations about his claims.[13] Lam Wing Kee told Hong Kong media that Wang was likely just repeating details of the abduction that he had “heard elsewhere,” dismissing his claim to have played any central role in the operation.[14]

Leonid Petrov, a Korean security expert at the Australian National University, also said the South Korean passport contained serious discrepancies. And questioned why would the Chinese intelligence ever equip their spies with crude forgeries? Petrov points out that 'Wang' is a very common Chinese name but a very rare name in Korea. And that picking an unusual name for a South Korean citizen's passport would had only attracted unwanted attention to the passport bearer. Additionally Petrov points out an obvious error that the Korean name on the passport in the lower right area doesn't match the English name listed. Lastly he pointed out that Wang does not speak Korean, hence the issuance and use of this fake passport for anything other than just “flash” purposes was unprofessional for intelligence operations as carrying a passport in a language one does not speak is extremely risky.[15]

Sky News host Sharri Markson reported in the Daily Telegraph that Wang may have only been engaged in low-level work for the Chinese. The Daily Telegraph had also reported that Australian intelligence officials had briefed the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on a report witheringly titled “China Spy Farce”, with the consensus that it is “highly dubious” that Wang Liqiang was the high-level Chinese spy that he claims to be, and while Wang may have been involved in “very low-level” work, he did not operate in Australia and would “not have value” to the country.[16]

Wang also claimed that he worked with the Hong Kong-based company China Innovation Investment Limited to infiltrate Hong Kong universities and media with pro-Chinese Communist Party operatives. On 26 November, Taiwanese authorities detained and questioned Chinese businessman Xiang Xin (向心, also Xiang Nianxin 向念心)[17] and his wife Gong Qing (龔青), executives of China Innovation whom Wang identified as Chinese intelligence operatives.[18] The two denied knowing Wang. The two were accused of running a spy network directed by high-level members of the People's Liberation Army, Nie Li and Ding Henggao.[19]

On 8 April 2021, Xiang and Gong were charged with illegally laundering around US$24 million from Shanghai-based Guotai Investment Holding Group (國太投資), with an investigation regarding whether the two violated the National Security Act ongoing.[20] The prosecutors alleged that Xiang held positions at various Chinese state corporations related to the military, while Gong worked as an art editor for a military affairs magazine.[21][22]

However, on 12 November 2021, Taiwan's Taipei Prosecutors Office said it has dropped all national security related charges against Xiang Xin and five other alleged associates citing "a lack of evidence".[4] The prosecutors said they could not find any evidence to back Wang Liqiang's assertions that the businesses invested by Xiang Xin ever engaged in election interference or information operations in Taiwan. There was also little evidence to support Wang's assertion that Xiang Xin ran a spy network supported by China, as Wang asserted in 2019.

Reactions

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described allegations of a Chinese plot to infiltrate Australia's parliament as "deeply disturbing". "I would caution anyone leaping to any conclusions about these matters. And that's why we have these agencies."[23] On 24 November 2019, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) confirmed that Wang's allegations were being taken "seriously", but did not comment on the merits thereof.[24]

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the reports were "of real concern", and that Wang might have a "legitimate claim for asylum".[25] Liberal member-of-parliament Andrew Hastie called Wang a "friend of democracy", and also called for the government to grant Wang's asylum application.[26]

James Laurenceson, acting director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney criticised the Australian media for pushing the Wang story too hastily without having it verified first . He stated “It is a fact that Australian journalists, commentators and politicians more hawkish on China and more invested in the ‘China threat’ narrative were the ones breaking the Wang Liqiang story and talking it up. The Wang Liqiang story is just the latest example of claims running ahead of an evidence base in Australia.”[27]

Speaking on national television, Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg declined to comment on ASIO's "operational matter," but said that the Australian government "makes no apologies for the laws that [it's] introduced around foreign interference and foreign influence."[28]

Mainland China

Ma Xiaoguang, leader of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council, said that "the mainland never involves itself in Taiwanese elections, and these reports are complete nonsense." He further stated that whoever "made up" this story intends to meddle with the Taiwanese election unjustly and that he believed "Taiwanese compatriots will see this right through."[29]

The Jing'an Branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau issued an official statement that Wang was a fugitive in a fraud case and that both his Chinese passport and Hong Kong permanent resident identity card were forged.[30] On 27 November, Chinese state-owned Global Times released an "exclusive" court video apparently showing Wang on trial for fraud, admitting all charges, and given a suspended sentence of 18 months.[31] However, some critics argued that the video is likely doctored, because it appears "blurry" and "heavily edited," and features mostly the back of the subject.[32]

Taiwan

Han Kuo-yu, the Kuomintang presidential candidate rejected claims of electoral assistance from the CCP and said that if he had taken even a single dollar from them for the campaign, he would withdraw immediately.[33] President Tsai responded that China obviously intends to interfere with Taiwanese elections.[33]

Wong Yen-ching, former deputy director of Taiwan's Military Intelligence Bureau, stated that he suspected Wang of fraud and that based on his professional judgement, he can say with certainty that [Wang's allegations] were falsified in an attempt to seek political asylum.” According to him, Wang's claim that he worked in both Taiwan and Hong Kong, and that he reported to two supervisors at the same time contradicts the basic principles of espionage as spies assigned tasks in one location at a time, will not report to multiple supervisors simultaneously. In addition, Wong says that Wang referred to China’s intelligence bureau by a former name, appearing to have no knowledge that it was later renamed. Wong asserts "If Wang had valuable information to provide, the Australian government would protect the information by attempting to prevent him from giving interviews. As Canberra apparently does not trust him, Wang must have spoken to the media in an attempt to avoid being deported back to China".[34][35][36]

See also

References
  1. "Beijing 'spy' a bit player at best". The Australian. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  2. Eftimiades, Nicholas (6 December 2019). "Wang Liqiang: Chinese Defector, Fraud or Both?". Breaking Defense. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  3. Bachelard, Michael (28 November 2019). "China labels spying claims 'absurd', claims Wang Liqiang is a fraud". The Age. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. "王立強爆向心夫婦涉共諜！扯出「韓國瑜總統後援會」22臉書 不起訴原因曝光". 蘋果新聞網. 12 November 2021.
  5. "捲入「王立強」共諜案 中國創新投資主席向心夫婦不起訴". 中時新聞網. 12 November 2021.
  6. "60 Minutes 'Chinese spy' Liqiang Wang refused asylum in Australia". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  7. Ip, Cyril (10 January 2023). "Chinese 'spy' facing deportation from Australia over fraud claims". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. Guangze Court, Fujian Province (10 November 2016). "China Judgements Online Official". China Judgements Online. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  9. Needham, Kirsty (24 November 2019). "China alleges fraud against spy defector to Australia". The Age. Archived from the original on 26 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  10. Wu, Wendy (24 November 2019). "China claims 'spy' who defected to Australia is a fraud". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  11. Joske, Alex (24 November 2019). "Defections are messy and we may never know the full story". The Age. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  12. "Chinese spy confirms China's involvement in Taiwan 2020 election". Taiwan News. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  13. "Chinese spy who 'infiltrated' Hong Kong defects to Australia: report". South China Morning Post. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  14. Grenfell, Oscar (5 December 2019). "Australian media's "Chinese spy defection" story unravels". www.wsws.org. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  15. Makichuk, Dave (7 December 2019). "'Defector' Wang Liqiang and the Great Game". Asia Times. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  16. "China Spy Farce: agencies 'highly dubious' on Wang Liqiang's espionage claims". news.com.au. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  17. "追豪宅購屋金流！ 向心夫婦2度遭檢方約談". TVBS. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  18. Bachelard, Michael (26 November 2019). "Taiwan detains alleged agent identified in Australian reports, calls China 'enemy of democracy'". The Age. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  19. "向心背後指揮者 指向中國第一位女中將聶力" [Those directing Xiang Xin: China's first female middle-general Nie Li is implicated] (in Chinese (Taiwan)). FTV News. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  20. 賴佩璇 (8 April 2021). "「王立強」共諜案向心夫婦涉洗錢7.4億今遭起訴 國安法偵辦中". United Daily News. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  21. Hsiao, Po-wen; Mazzetta, Matthew. "Alleged Chinese spies indicted in Taiwan for money laundering". Central News Agency (Taiwan). Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  22. Pan, Jason (12 April 2021). "Authorities extend travel ban for two accused of spying". Taipei Times. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  23. McCulloch, Katina Curtis and Daniel (25 November 2019). "Chinese spy claims deeply disturbing to PM". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  24. Sakkal, Paul; McKenzie, Nick (24 November 2019). "ASIO chief confirms Chinese spy claims are being 'taken seriously'". The Age. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  25. McGowan, Michael (23 November 2019). "Defecting Chinese spy who revealed espionage in Australia has 'legitimate claim for asylum', Labor says". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 23 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  26. Sakkal, Paul; McKenzie, Nick (23 November 2019). "'Let him stay': Influential Liberal MP urges asylum for Chinese defector". The Age. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  27. Power, John (4 December 2019). "Was Australia too eager to believe claims of self-proclaimed Chinese spy?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  28. "Embassy dismisses 'fraudster' spy who claims China ordered assassinations on Australian soil". ABC News. 24 November 2019. Archived from the original on 24 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  29. 中國「間諜」王立強 叛逃與詐騙的對立說法. BBC Chinese (in Traditional Chinese). 24 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  30. 上海公安指王立強是詐騙犯 | Australia Chinese Daily 澳洲新聞. Australia Chinese Daily (in Traditional Chinese). 24 November 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  31. "Video shows Chinese 'spy' who defected to Australia in court". France 24. 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  32. 官媒公布王立强诈骗庭审录像 真实性受怀疑. Radio Free Asia (in Chinese). Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  33. 被指收中共 2 千萬人民幣 韓國瑜：有拿 1 塊錢我立即退選. Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  34. "Han questions reports about spy - Taipei Times". www.taipeitimes.com. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  35. "Australia probes spy plot amid claims of Beijing's political meddling". South China Morning Post. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  36. Beijing, Bernard Lagan, Sydney | Didi Tang. "Australia to investigate Chinese 'plot to plant spy in parliament'". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 21 October 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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