Australia Seeks Foreign-Meddling Curbs After China Dust-Up

  • New legislation will update espionage and treason definitions
  • Political lobbyists obliged to register ties to foreign powers
BEIJING, CHINA - JUNE 03: Chinese Paramilitary police officers stand guard below a portrait of the late leader Mao Zedong in front of the Forbidden City at Tiananmen Square on June 4, 2014 in Beijing, China. Twenty-five years ago on June 4, 1989 Chinese troops cracked down on pro-democracy protesters and in the clashes that followed scores were killed and injured. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Photographer: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images 

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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would introduce legislation to limit political meddling by foreign powers, citing reports of Chinese influence over a local lawmaker and Russia’s U.S. election interference.

People or organizations acting in the interests of foreign powers would be required to register and disclose their ties, Turnbull said, adding that foreign political donations would also be banned.