Chinese security officials who detained a Sydney academic in 2017 spent a full day interrogating him about Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s hand-picked China adviser, according to information gathered by national security officials.

In March, 2017, Australian academic Chongyi Feng was prevented from leaving Guangzhou and subjected to interrogation. Credit:Steven Siewert

Chongyi Feng, an Associate Professor in Chinese Studies at the University of Technology Sydney, was detained and questioned by Chinese officials during a visit to China in March last year about his links to liberal intellectuals in mainland China and contacts in Australia.

Fairfax Media can reveal that during the interrogation, Chinese state security officials demanded information about adviser John Garnaut, who at the time was working on an ASIO inquiry commissioned by Mr Turnbull.

The inquiry was aimed at assessing the extent of Beijing’s intelligence and interference operations in Australia.