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Beijing scowls at Canberra over visa for Chen Yonglin

Chinese officials yesterday protested Australia's decision to grant asylum to a former diplomat from China and warned that the case could affect relations between the two countries.

Australia last week granted a permanent visa to middle-ranked diplomat Chen Yonglin (陳用林), who left his post at China's consulate in Sydney in May and asked for asylum, claiming he would be persecuted if he returned home because of his sympathy for the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which Beijing brands an evil cult.

He later claimed to have information that Beijing was running a vast spy network in Australia.

Australian officials confirmed on Friday that Chen, his wife and six-year-old daughter had been granted a permanent protection visa -- typically given to people fleeing persecution in their homeland.

The Chinese consulate general in Sydney issued a statement yesterday accusing Chen of creating "unfounded and fictitious stories."

The statement rejected Chen's claim that he faced persecution if he returned to China because of his sympathy for the outlawed Falun Gong movement.

"There is no so-called political persecution at all," the statement said. "Therefore we firmly oppose the decision by the Australian government to provide a protection visa to Chen Yonglin and request the Australian side properly handle this case so as to ensure the healthy development of Chinese-Australian relations."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's spokesman Chris Kenny said the government had no comment other than "the visa application was processed according to Australian law."

The consulate said Chen was due to return to China after completing his four-year posting but "pursued his personal agenda of staying in Australia."

"China is a nation ruled by law and we handle cases in accordance with its [sic] merits and legal provisions," it said.

Last month, Chen said he had already been deserted by Australian authorities, who he said were more concerned about sealing a multibillion dollar free-trade deal with Beijing than protecting his human rights.

China is Australia's third-largest trading partner, with trade worth about A$29 billion (US$21.4 billion) a year. Australia is set to begin delivering liquid natural gas to China's Guangdong Province next year as part of a long-term, A$25 billion supply contract -- the country's largest export deal.

The two countries announced in April that they would commence negotiations on a free-trade pact after successfully completing a joint feasibility study.
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