US Attorney General Merrick Garland held a news conference announcing charges against 13 Chinese nationals (Picture: Department of Justice)

The Department of Justice has announced charges against 13 Chinese nationals who allegedly tried to influence US rights, freedoms and systems.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland and other top Justice Department officials announced the charges across three cases in New York and New Jersey on Monday afternoon.

‘As  these  cases  demonstrate, the government of China sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States and to undermine our judicial  system that  protects those rights. They did not succeed,’ said Garland.

‘The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based.’

On Monday morning, the Justice Department announced that a press conference would be held to discuss ‘significant national security cases addressing malign influence schemes and alleged activity by a nation-state actor’ in America.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, FBI Director Chris Wray and Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen were among officials who spoke on the matter.

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‘The government of China sought to interfere with the rights and freedoms of individuals in the United States,’ said the Justice Department.