Beijing: The Chinese government has hit back at a Fairfax/Four Corners investigation into its influence in Australia.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said the claims of spying and the Chinese government threatening students at Australian universities were "totally pointless" and refuted by China.

Credit:Jason South

She urged Australian media to "make objective reporting" instead of "creating obstacles" to co-operation between the two countries.

Earlier, China's nationalist newspaper, The Global Times, prominently reported the allegations by the Fairfax/Four Corners investigation.