CANBERRA, Australia, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- The Australian Intelligence Security Organization has established a special division to specifically counter foreign intelligence gathering in the country.
The Counter-Espionage and Foreign Interference Division was apparently established in July, The Australian newspaper reported last week.
Earlier in December it was revealed the ASIO had doubled the number of foreign-language speakers and personnel with foreign backgrounds over the year as part of its counter-terrorism and counter espionage activities.
Chinese language speakers made up the largest number of new employees given Australia's concern over what it believes is an increased effort by China to obtain Australian defense technology.
Security sources, however, declined to give a clearer breakdown of the recruits and their areas of language expertise.
The ASIO said the new division would "address threats from espionage and foreign interference" and compliments the agency's focus on terrorism and other extremist activity, the newspaper reported.
