ACT Liberal candidate Robert Johnson in false Chinese media articles

The Liberals say the articles featuring Robert Johnson are inaccurate and have rejected any suggestion of a relationship between the candidate and the Chinese Community Party.

The articles, first published in 2015, said Mr Johnson was selected by the Australian Army to serve in a special task force in Afghanistan and had recently retired.

They quote him recalling "bullets whizzing over his head". The article was reproduced across a number of other Chinese media outlets.

The Canberra Liberals said the articles were inaccurate and included false quotes. They said Mr Johnson - who is running in the seat of Kurrajong - got the original article taken down, but the story remained online on other websites.

Mr Johnson served in the Army Reserves from 2013 to 2015, but has not been an active duty service member of the army. He has not served in Afghanistan.

The online articles included images of Mr Johnson in his military uniform. Mr Johnson was interviewed in his military uniform for a production called the Story of Australia, which was coordinated by the army's communications unit.

In a statement, a Canberra Liberals spokesman said Mr Johnson was a "proud Australian citizen". The spokesman said Mr Johnson had been granted Australian security clearances.

"He continues to faithfully serve the Canberra community, including through supporting Canberra's local Chinese community," the spokesman said.

"Any suggestion of a relationship between Mr Johnson and the Chinese Communist Party is rejected."