Chinese spy in Australia has applied for asylum

A man claiming to be a Chinese spy in Australia has applied for asylum, media reports say.

Wang "William" Liqiang reportedly provided information on operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia to the authorities and said he was "personally involved" in the work of spying.

He's now in Sydney with his wife and child, and if he goes home he's afraid he'll be killed.

The name and claims of Mr Wang remain unconfirmed.

But Australia's Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told reporters that the case of Mr Wang is "now in the hands of the relevant law enforcement agencies," adding that his charges are "very disturbing."

And opposition leader Anthony Albanese of the Labor Party said the man could have a "legitimate asylum claim."

A senior official anonymous told Australian broadcaster ABC intelligence agencies now had to "separate fact from fiction" while investigating the allegations made by Mr Wang.