Australia told to stop harassing Chinese journalists

China urged Australia on Wednesday to guarantee the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and stop doing anything that undermines people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the remark at a regular news briefing in Beijing after confirming that Australian officials had raided and seized items from the homes of four Chinese journalists in late June, citing a possible violation of the country's foreign interference laws.

"We ask Australia to immediately stop such blatantly irrational behavior, and stop harassing and oppressing Chinese personnel in Australia under whatever pretext," Zhao said.