Australia's top spy calls out China for sabotage threat

While threats facing Australia are significant, they are not insurmountable, Mike Burgess says. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia's spy chief has rung the alarm on state-backed espionage, naming China as a chief concern for its attempts to hack telecommunications and infrastructure. 

However, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said there were threats from even friendly nations given the "relentless hunger" for strategic advantage.