Australian Spy Agency Pivots Focus To China Threat

Members of the People's Liberation Army band file out after the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, outside The Great Hall of People in Beijing, China, on Oct. 22, 2022. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

In a rare public speech, the director-general of Australia’s foreign intelligence service, ASIS, has admitted that his agency has pivoted its primary focus away from terrorism and people smuggling and is now focusing on the growing threat from China.

Speaking at the Australian National University National Security College, the Director-General of ASIS, Paul Symon, said that the agency is making adjustments to address what he termed some “alarming signs” from the Asian country.