Not for the first time, a Chinese agent is caught red-handed harassing abroad a religious movement the CCP regards as a “cult.”
by Jin Ruolan
In a case that has sent ripples through Australia’s national security and human rights communities, a woman has been charged with reckless foreign interference for allegedly targeting members of a Chinese spiritual movement operating in Australia. The incident, which could result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years, marks a rare invocation of Australia’s foreign interference laws and highlights growing concerns over Beijing’s transnational repression of religious dissidents.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested in Canberra following an investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). Authorities allege she engaged in a sustained campaign of harassment and surveillance against members of Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, a Buddhist-inspired religious movement founded in Australia but banned in China.
According to court documents, the woman is accused of collecting personal information about Guan Yin Citta followers, including their addresses, family details, and religious activities, and transmitting this data to individuals believed to be connected to Chinese state entities. The prosecution claims her actions were intended to intimidate and disrupt the movement’s operations in Australia, where it maintains a sizable following among Chinese diaspora communities.
The charges fall under Australia’s National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Act 2018, which criminalizes covert or deceptive conduct on behalf of a foreign government that seeks to influence political or social outcomes. While the law has been used sparingly since its enactment, this case represents one of the most serious applications to date, with prosecutors arguing that the woman’s actions directly threaten Australia’s sovereignty and the safety of its residents.
Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, also known simply as Guan Yin Citta, is a new religious movement founded by Master Lu Junhong, a Chinese-born spiritual teacher who emigrated to Australia in 1989 and became a citizen in 1995. Lu, who died in Sydney in 2021, developed a unique blend of Chinese Buddhism, folk spirituality, and metaphysical practices that attracted millions of followers worldwide, including in China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America.
The movement emphasizes the recitation of Buddhist mantras and sutras, spiritual healing, and animal liberation—a practice where devotees purchase and release captive creatures into nature as an act of compassion. One of its signature rituals involves “little houses,” yellow sheets of paper marked with dots crossed off during chanting and then ritually burned to purify karma and promote spiritual progress.
Lu also introduced the concept of “totem readings,” claiming that each person has a spiritual double—a totem—that persists across reincarnations and can be accessed to reveal past lives and diagnose spiritual ailments. While popular among followers, these practices have drawn criticism from mainstream Buddhist organizations, some of which have labeled Guan Yin Citta as unorthodox or superstitious.
In China, the movement has been branded as “xie jiao,” a term often translated as “evil cult” but more accurately meaning “group spreading heterodox teaching.” The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long used this designation to justify crackdowns on religious groups it deems politically or ideologically threatening. Although Guan Yin Citta is not officially listed among the banned xie jiao, it has been repeatedly targeted by Chinese authorities, with devotees arrested, interrogated, and subjected to media smear campaigns.
A 2019 confidential document from Fujian province, published by “Bitter Winter,” revealed a coordinated plan to “investigate, purge, and research” Guan Yin Citta activities in China. The document estimated the movement had over three million followers in the country, prompting alarm among officials. Despite Lu’s death in 2021, the crackdown has continued, with reports of ongoing surveillance and repression in cities like Shanghai and Hangzhou.
The Canberra case is emblematic of a broader trend in which the Chinese government is accused of extending its domestic religious persecution beyond its borders. Human rights organizations have documented numerous instances of Chinese authorities harassing, threatening, or attempting to silence dissidents and religious minorities abroad—including Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, and members of The Church of Almighty God and underground Christian churches.
What makes the current case particularly troubling is the alleged use of local operatives to infiltrate and destabilize a religious community on Australian soil. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the accused woman attended Guan Yin Citta events under false pretenses, recorded conversations, and attempted to sow discord among members. She is also believed to have passed information to contacts in China, potentially exposing followers to retaliation against relatives still living there.
“This is not just a matter of espionage,” said one national security expert who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the case. “It’s about the weaponization of diaspora networks to suppress religious freedom and intimidate people who thought they had found safety in Australia.”
The incident has prompted renewed calls for vigilance against foreign interference, particularly in multicultural communities where individuals may be vulnerable to coercion or manipulation. It also raises questions about the adequacy of protections for religious minorities and the need for greater awareness of transnational repression tactics.
While the Canberra case is the first of its kind involving Guan Yin Citta, it fits into a growing pattern of Chinese state-linked efforts to monitor and control religious movements abroad. In recent years, Falun Gong practitioners and members of The Church of Almighty God in several countries have reported being followed, photographed, and threatened. Uyghur activists have received warnings from Chinese officials about their families back home. Christian house church leaders have been pressured to cease overseas evangelism.
In each case, the goal appears to be the same: to silence dissent, prevent the spread of unauthorized religious ideas, and maintain ideological control over Chinese nationals, even when they reside in democratic countries.
The CCP’s strategy often involves a combination of direct surveillance, cyber harassment, and the use of proxies—individuals who may be coerced, paid, or ideologically motivated to act on behalf of Chinese interests. These tactics blur the line between domestic law enforcement and international intimidation, challenging the ability of host countries to protect their citizens and uphold civil liberties.
As the Canberra case proceeds through the courts, it will likely become a litmus test for Australia’s commitment to defending religious freedom and countering foreign interference. Legal experts say the outcome could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled, especially as more countries grapple with the complexities of transnational repression.
The stakes are personal for members of Guan Yin Citta and other targeted movements. Many fled China to escape persecution, only to find that the state’s long arm has followed them. The hope now is that democratic institutions will rise to the challenge—not only by prosecuting offenders but by affirming the right of all people to believe, worship, and live without fear.
“This is about more than one woman,” said a religious freedom advocacy group spokesperson. “It’s about drawing a line in the sand and saying: you cannot export persecution. Not here. Not anywhere.”
As the flowers of Guan Yin Citta continue to bloom in Australia, the question remains: What stands behind them? For now, the answer may be resilience and the rule of law.
