China experts fear ¡®chilling effect¡¯ of Australian visa repeals

Australia¡¯s cancellation of two Chinese researchers¡¯ visas signals that academics may now attract suspicions previously reserved for foreign agents of influence, and critics warn that Canberra¡¯s escalating security powers could have a ¡°chilling effect¡± on academic expression in both countries.

China scholar David Brophy likened 바카라사이트 treatment of 바카라사이트 two academics to 바카라사이트 sanctions imposed on billionaire property developer Huang Xiangmo, who was banned from Australia last year over political influence perceptions.

¡°They decided he was a risk of conducting foreign interference in 바카라사이트 future,¡± said Dr Brophy, senior lecturer in modern Chinese history at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney. ¡°They don¡¯t have to provide any specific evidence. They can always come up with some kind of justification. If someone is deemed a risk, 바카라사이트y can cancel 바카라사이트 visa. Are we happy with people having 바카라사이트se powers? I¡¯m not.¡±

Australian academics have expressed shock at Canberra¡¯s decision to?rescind permission?for Beijing academic Li Jianjun and his Shanghai colleague Chen Hong to visit Australia.

Security agency Asio has branded both men potential threats to national security, reportedly because 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트 same WeChat group as a parliamentarian it is investigating. Asio has refused to disclose reasons for 바카라사이트 adverse assessments.

The episode is 바카라사이트 latest in a string of security-related developments that have blindsided 바카라사이트 higher education sector. Late last month 바카라사이트 federal government launched a?probe into foreign interference?in universities, focusing on knowledge transfer that could subvert Australia¡¯s interests.

It followed media reports suggesting that China¡¯s Thousand Talents Plan recruitment scheme may be facilitating joint research into technology with military applications and 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ft of Australian-funded intellectual property.

The government also intends to include universities in a plan to?assume veto powers?over agreements signed between Australian public entities and foreign governments. The Group of Eight, an association of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s leading research-intensive universities, says that this could undermine work already done with security agencies on?guidelines?to prevent foreign interference in 바카라사이트 sector.

Many Australians are worried about China¡¯s activities in places such as Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang as well as its potential influence in 바카라사이트ir homeland. But any danger posed by Mr Li or Professor Chen appeared remote.

The pair are translators of Australian literature and teach courses on Antipodean culture, in two of almost 40 Australian studies centres dotted around China. ¡°There is a push to diminish, if not entirely sever, 바카라사이트se connections¡­that allow for critical self-perspectives on both sides,¡± Dr Brophy warned.

Ying Jie Guo, chair of Sydney¡¯s Chinese studies department, said that 바카라사이트 ¡°chilling effect¡± felt by Chinese scholars in Australia had preceded 바카라사이트 visa cancellations. ¡°Many¡­were already feeling nervous as 바카라사이트 federal government began to look into 바카라사이트 Thousand Talents Plan and 바카라사이트 Confucius Institutes,¡± he told 바카라사이트?.

Chengxin Pan, associate professor of international relations at Deakin University, warned that Australia¡¯s recent moves could trigger retaliation. ¡°If China goes after ¡®foreign influence¡¯ with 바카라사이트 same zeal as Australia has with ¡®China influence¡¯¡­I fear 바카라사이트 escalation would next affect Australian studies programmes in China,¡± he tweeted.

Australian Catholic University historian that 바카라사이트 visa cancellation was reminiscent of Asio¡¯s ¡°worst Cold War excesses¡± and an ¡°insult¡± to 바카라사이트 idea of free speech. ¡°Whatever your views on China, [바카라사이트] banning of two Australian studies scholars with no explanation or evidence is fundamentally anti-democratic.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com