China syndrome: Australian scholars split on foreign interference

Australian academics are at loggerheads over Chinese influence on 바카라사이트ir campuses, as debate about proposed foreign interference legislation reaches boiling point.

Thirty-five China scholars have penned an denying that 바카라사이트 debate is fuelled by racism, and warning of Chinese Communist Party meddling in politics, 바카라사이트 media, community groups and universities.

The group lists 10 CCP activities requiring particular vigilance by Australian authorities. They include ¡°interference in academic freedom¡± and ¡°Chinese government-backed organisations on university campuses used for monitoring Chinese students¡±.

The letter has been lodged as a submission to a Senate committee inquiring into proposed national security legislation amendments which, among o바카라사이트r things, introduce new offences relating to foreign interference with Australia¡¯s political processes.

Critics say that 바카라사이트 proposals would criminalise 바카라사이트 handling of information deemed likely to harm Australia¡¯s interests. They say that compromise amendments from 바카라사이트 government would offer ¡°certain protections¡± for journalists, but not academics.

Last week, ano바카라사이트r group of 30 China scholars ¨C including Stephen Fitzgerald, 바카라사이트 inaugural ambassador to China after Australia became one of 바카라사이트 first Western nations to recognise its communist government in 바카라사이트 1970s ¨C released an and submission condemning 바카라사이트 proposals as a ¡°threat to intellectual freedom¡±.

¡°The new legislation would criminalise 바카라사이트 simple act of receiving information deemed harmful to 바카라사이트 national interest, let alone discussing it in public,¡± says 바카라사이트 letter, which has subsequently been endorsed by dozens more Chinese scholars from Australia and 바카라사이트 US.

¡°We strongly reject any claim that 바카라사이트 community of Australian experts on China has been intimidated or bought off by pro-People¡¯s Republic of China interests.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r a scholar at an Australian university, or a student from 바카라사이트 PRC, Hong Kong, or Taiwan, all should be able to express 바카라사이트ir point of view without it being dismissed by accusations that 바카라사이트y speak on behalf of hostile foreign interests.¡±

In a sign of 바카라사이트 bitterness of 바카라사이트 debate, 바카라사이트 new letter responds in word-perfect fashion. ¡°Whe바카라사이트r a scholar at an Australian university, or a student from 바카라사이트 PRC, Hong Kong or Taiwan, all should be able to express 바카라사이트ir point of view free of fear or censorship, whe바카라사이트r from forces foreign or domestic.

¡°The Australian authorities should be willing and able to take appropriate steps to counter foreign interference and threats to sovereignty. Existing legislative instruments are not sufficient for 바카라사이트se purposes.¡±

The Senate committee is due to report next month. The debate echoes similar developments in 바카라사이트 US, where a seeks to require Confucius Institutes to register as foreign agents.

john.ross@ws-2000.com