The fugitive who handed Australian intelligence services a detailed description of alleged Chinese intelligence activities in Hong Kong and Taiwan is a convicted fraudster, Shanghai police have said.
Wang Liqiang, a Chinese citizen, is asking for protection from the Australian government after fleeing to the country in April. Mr Wang went public this weekend with claims that he took part in spying, cyber and influence operations for the Chinese military over the past five years.
On Saturday night Shanghai police said Mr Wang was a “fugitive suspect” in a fraud investigation and had been found guilty in a separate fraud case three years earlier. It is the first time Chinese authorities have reacted to his claims.