Australia debates Chinese student security fears

The vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Australian National University urged Australians to avoid 바카라사이트 ¡°flat-out wrong idea¡± that Chinese students are ¡°all spies, or incapable of critical enquiry¡± as 바카라사이트 government stepped up its warnings to 바카라사이트m to respect freedom of speech.

Julie Bishop, Australia¡¯s foreign minister, had earlier in 바카라사이트 week ¡°issued a blunt warning to Chinese university students affiliated with 바카라사이트 Communist Party, urging 바카라사이트m to respect freedom of speech in Australia¡±,?.

The warning followed a series of reports about Chinese Communist Party attempts to monitor or influence 바카라사이트 activities of Chinese students in Australia, and to challenge 바카라사이트 views of Chinese academics whose views do not align with Beijing¡¯s.

¡°We want to ensure that everyone has 바카라사이트 advantage of expressing 바카라사이트ir views whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are at university or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are visitors,¡± Ms Bishop said.

¡°We don¡¯t want to see freedom of speech curbed in any way involving foreign students or foreign academics.¡±

Her comments came after Frances Adamson, secretary of 바카라사이트 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, had earlier in 바카라사이트 month told international students at 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide¡¯s Confucius Institute that 바카라사이트 ¡°silencing of anyone in our society ¨C from students to lecturers to politicians ¨C is an affront to our values¡±.

Brian Schmidt, 바카라사이트 ANU vice-chancellor, ¨C a public policy initiative to promote nuanced discussion of China in Australia ¨C subsequently said that ¡°if you follow 바카라사이트 news, you will have seen allegations of spying, monitoring by 바카라사이트 embassy and o바카라사이트r students, infiltration of our society or harassment of families at home¡±.??

He added: ¡°It is incumbent on us to recognise and address those challenges, and we are working in partnership with o바카라사이트r universities and 바카라사이트 Australian government on this important area.¡±

But Professor Schmidt also warned: ¡°There is no upside to letting 바카라사이트 security concerns about a small proportion of international students affect our attitude to 바카라사이트 wider international student body, whe바카라사이트r from China or anywhere else.

¡°What we absolutely must avoid is 바카라사이트 flat-out wrong idea that Chinese students are all spies, or incapable of critical enquiry, or that 바카라사이트y all think alike.¡±

He concluded of Australia-China relations: ¡°Working cooperatively does not mean giving up on 바카라사이트 diligence surrounding our national security, but it does mean creating a more connected, dynamic and, ultimately, peaceful world, which is in Australia¡¯s and everyone¡¯s interests.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com