The nation's top intelligence officer has confirmed that the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is taking "seriously" allegations that the Chinese government is actively seeking to inject agents into Australia and has interfered in the governance of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

ASIO director-general of security Mike Burgess issued an extraordinary statement on Sunday night that said stories in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes contain "allegations that ASIO takes seriously" and that he was "committed to protecting Australia’s democracy and sovereignty".

"Australians can be reassured that ASIO was previously aware of matters that have been reported today, and has been actively investigating them. However, in accordance with long-standing practice, I will not comment on this particular operational matter, including any detail of the individuals involved," the statement said.

The reports said that Chinese man Wang Liqiang had told agencies that he worked in Hong Kong as a spy for Chinese military intelligence before defecting to Australia, and also that a Chinese espionage ring had hatched another plot to put a candidate into Federal Parliament who would spy for China.