A man (left) and 31-year-old Siru Zheng (right), both Chinese nationals, are accused of spying on members of the community. Photos: AFP/Albert McKnight.
Two members of an alleged Chinese spy ring have been granted bail, and one has been named, after a magistrate questioned the strength of the allegations against them.
Three Chinese nationals, 31-year-old Siru Zheng and two who legally can’t be identified, allegedly worked together under the direction of the Chinese Government to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of the Buddhist group Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door.
The first woman was arrested in August 2025 before she was granted bail that October, while Ms Zheng and the man were arrested this week before applying for bail on Thursday (12 February).
The ACT Magistrates Court heard it alleged that the People’s Republic of China told one, two or all of them to gather intelligence by collecting information that was available online, including news reports, to understand Guan Yin Citta’s activities, methods and structure in Australia.
But after reading a 57-page document outlining the allegations, Magistrate Glenn Theakston questioned the strength of the evidence.
“There’s no general plan to deceive,” he said.
“There’s scant evidence that I can see that demonstrates the covert or deceptive nature of the alleged offending.”
The magistrate said there was only one allegation about a phone call that made been made in which one or more defendants were said to have lied about wanting to join Guan Yin Citta.
While being questioned in the courtroom, a police officer admitted there was no suggestion either defendant had booked flights out of the country.
Under questioning from barrister Anthony Williamson SC, appearing for the man, the officer said his client had been identified as a suspect in the investigation in June 2025.
Siru Zheng, 31, is the only one of the three alleged Chinese spies whose name is allowed to be reported. Photo: Albert McKnight.
Mr Williamson said due to the significant media interest in the first woman’s arrest, if his client had committed the offence, then he should have known by last August that “the police may be coming for him”.
“But he’s made no effort to flee the jurisdiction,” the barrister said.
Barrister Travis Jackson, who represents Ms Zheng, said there was no allegation his client had committed any offence since 2022 and pointed out her home was also raided by police in August 2025, at the same time as when police searched the first woman’s home.
The prosecutor opposed bail on the risks of the two defendants fleeing the country for China, as Australia has no extradition treaty with the country.
But Magistrate Theakston did not even hear the two defence barristers’ arguments about bail before granting it with a long list of conditions, including that the defendants surrender their passports, not approach any Chinese embassy, or contact any Chinese Government employee except for family members.
He also made a list of non-publication orders, including over the man’s name, but not Ms Zheng’s. The first woman has already had her name legally suppressed.
Mr Jackson did note Ms Zheng had been followed by media for the last three weeks and her passport had been published by The Australian.
“She has faced some harassment,” he said.
Magistrate Theakston said he was somewhat concerned that, potentially, a document surrendered to the Australian Federal Police containing Ms Zheng’s personal details had made its way to the media.
The first woman and the man are accused of covertly and deceptively collecting information on Guan Yin Citta over about the last three years, while the details of Ms Zheng’s charge have not been aired in court.
All have been charged with, and pleaded not guilty to, reckless foreign interference. They are the third, fourth and fifth people in Australia to be handed this charge after the laws were introduced in 2018.
Their cases were scheduled to appear in court again on 8 April.
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