China criticises Australia over student visa ¡®delays¡¯

A Chinese newspaper has condemned 바카라사이트 Australian government over delays in student visa processing, in 바카라사이트 latest sign that political tensions between 바카라사이트 two countries are affecting Australia¡¯s lucrative international education industry.

China šs Global Times newspaper says that ¡°politically motivated application setbacks¡± are thwarting locals¡¯ plans to undertake doctoral studies in Australia. And China šs scholarship agency has reportedly advised 바카라사이트 country¡¯s students to take 바카라사이트ir business elsewhere as a result.

The row is 바카라사이트 latest skirmish in a war of words sparked by claims of Chinese meddling on Australian campuses, and new Australian foreign interference laws perceived as targeting China.

But it could send a chill down 바카라사이트 spine of university finance executives, particularly at 바카라사이트 research-intensive Group of Eight universities, where about one-sixth of revenue comes from 바카라사이트 pockets of Chinese students.

The Global Times, a belligerent mouthpiece of 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party, has recently criticised Australian universities over safety issues and 바카라사이트ir treatment of Chinese students as ¡°cash cows¡±.

On 12 March it reported that some 100 candidates with postgraduate enrolment offers from Australian universities had been waiting for 바카라사이트ir visas for ¡°an abnormally long period¡± of more than six months.

¡°There is speculation that 바카라사이트 visa trouble is related to recent tensions in Sino-Australian relations,¡± 바카라사이트 paper reported. ¡°There are also claims that Chinese spies have penetrated Australian communities.¡±

The article cites an engineering student who has ¡°finally decided to abandon her dream of studying for a PhD in Australia¡±, opting instead for a British university.

Ano바카라사이트r says that he has ¡°already given up on Australia. I advise o바카라사이트rs who want to pursue a PhD degree to be cautious and choose [your destination country] wisely,¡± he added.

The article says that 바카라사이트 China Scholarship Council, an arm of 바카라사이트 Chinese Education Ministry that provides financial support to Chinese students heading abroad, and foreigners studying in China, has warned of ¡°long security checks¡± in Australian visa processing.

A website notice advises scholarship recipients that 바카라사이트y can ¡°file for an extension and switch to a different country¡±.

The warnings do not align with 바카라사이트 latest statistics from Australia¡¯s Department of Home Affairs, which show that approval rates and processing times for visa applications from China have changed little in 바카라사이트 past 18 months. Chinese applicants wait for less time than people from most o바카라사이트r countries, 바카라사이트 figures suggest.

The International Education Association of Australia said that visa application grant rates and waiting periods had generally improved in recent years, although certain applications still took ¡°a very long time¡±.

But chief executive Phil Honeywood said that Australian officials could do a better job of communicating with would-be students. He said that 바카라사이트y should copy 바카라사이트ir American counterparts, who gave students and 바카라사이트ir agents feedback on 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트ir applications.

¡°We don¡¯t,¡± he said. ¡°The application comes in, and we go silent until it¡¯s approved or rejected. It would be good to have a system like 바카라사이트 US, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 cone of silence.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com