A document leaked by Edward Snowden indicates that Australia, U.S. ally and fellow “Five Eyes” country, collected intelligence in support of the National Security Agency’s (NSA) surveillance program through its embassies in Asia.
The New York Times reports that, last Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to the evidence of Australia’s practices at a daily media briefing, stating:
We demand that foreign entities and personnel in China strictly abide by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and other international treaties, and they must not, in any form, engage in activities that are incompatible with their position and status and that are harmful to China’s national security and interest.
A former Australian official, allegedly with knowledge and information of Australia’s relationship with the United States, is quoted by The Times as saying:
This was done not as a favor to the United States. It was more cooperative than at the U.S.’s request.
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