Australia’s mishandling of the recent Chinese defections raises a number of urgent questions about the personnel and competence of ASIO and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.The news during the past few weeks that three Chinese officials under diplomatic cover in Australia wished to defect produced a pantomime which, if it were not so serious, would be hilarious.In the Cold War days, a defector would be whisked away to a safe house and his bona fides established. Then he would be debri…
