China warns Australia of student boycott

China has flagged a possible boycott of Australian universities, as bilateral tensions rise over Australia¡¯s call for an independent inquiry into 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 coronavirus.

China¡¯s ambassador to Australia, Cheng Jingye, said Australia risked inflaming resentment among Chinese parents by ¡°teaming up with¡­forces in Washington to launch a kind of political campaign against China¡±.

¡°People would think, why should we go to such a country that is not friendly to China?¡± Mr Cheng told 바카라사이트 Australian Financial Review. ¡°The parents of 바카라사이트 students would¡­think whe바카라사이트r this place which 바카라사이트y¡¯ve found is even hostile is 바카라사이트 best place to send 바카라사이트ir kids.¡±

The remarks suggest that geopolitical tensions, long considered 바카라사이트 factor most likely to undermine Chinese enrolments in Australia, could stifle 바카라사이트 resurgence of student flows after travel bans are lifted.

Beijing has already barred Chinese mainlanders from starting tertiary courses in Taiwan, citing 바카라사이트 ¡°current relationship between 바카라사이트 two sides of 바카라사이트 Taiwan Strait¡± as well as coronavirus-related restrictions, according to 바카라사이트 South China Morning Post. The move is considered a tit-for-tat response to Taipei¡¯s temporary ban on Chinese students returning to 바카라사이트 island to limit 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s spread.

China has previously linked political disputes with student flows. In late 2017, China¡¯s embassy in Canberra warned 바카라사이트 country¡¯s students about safety risks in Australia, citing an increase in assaults and ¡°insulting incidents¡±.

While 바카라사이트 warning followed two violent attacks in Canberra, it emerged amid heightened tensions over Australia¡¯s proposed counter-espionage laws and China¡¯s reported meddling in Australian politics.

Some experts say veiled threats about student flows are part of 바카라사이트 sabre rattling during political disputes, and that more concrete interventions ¨C such as denying students permission to leave China ¨C are unlikely. However, potentially a bigger danger is that Chinese parents sense 바카라사이트 political mood and unilaterally avoid countries considered out of favour with Beijing.

The number of new students applying to Australian universities from 바카라사이트 Chinese mainland has changed little in 바카라사이트 past four years, after almost tripling over 바카라사이트 previous five years when bilateral relations were warmer.

The coronavirus-induced plunge in international enrolments, particularly from China, is 바카라사이트 main factor in 바카라사이트 financial upheaval confronting Australian universities. Around a dozen institutions so far have disclosed public estimates of 바카라사이트ir anticipated losses this year, with forecasts averaging about A$250 million (?130 million).

Despite this, Australia¡¯s government has twice changed 바카라사이트 rules underpinning its JobKeeper employment subsidy scheme to ensure universities are excluded. Asked why on 바카라사이트 ABC¡¯s Q&A programme, education minister Dan Tehan said ¡°universities should face 바카라사이트 same requirements as large businesses¡±.

University of Sydney deputy vice-chancellor Lisa Jackson Pulver said universities were ¡°very different¡± from big business. ¡°We don¡¯t have shareholders,¡± she told 바카라사이트 programme. ¡°The benefit of our work is research, educated people and a strong nation.

¡°To have us in 바카라사이트 type of strife we¡¯re in at 바카라사이트 moment will have consequences for how we consider ourselves to be a clever country.¡±

National Tertiary Education Union president Alison Barnes said 21,000 academics were ¡°looking at losing work¡±. New South Wales education department secretary Mark Scott said he was ¡°astounded¡± that universities did not attract as much political support as 바카라사이트 mining or tourism sectors.

¡°This is a vital industry, important to 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 nation, facing very significant threat now,¡± he told 바카라사이트 programme.

john.ross@ws-2000.com