22-3-24 Chinese Influence Over Australian Universities | JoAnd > . full > .
China pressure 'undermining Australian universities', report says:
Chinese pro-democracy students in Australia experience harassment and fear punishment [by Chinese authorities] if they speak out on sensitive issues, a new report says. Human Rights Watch found such students feel surveilled in Australia, leading many to self-censor in classrooms. Academics teaching China courses in the country say they have also felt pressure to censor themselves. In its report, Human Rights Watch warned that perceived pressure from China is undermining the academic freedom of Australian universities.
Face-saving cowards become bullies?
Human Rights Watch said it had interviewed nearly 50 students and academics in Australia and found an "atmosphere of fear" that had worsened in recent years. The students interviewed - 11 from mainland China and 13 from Hong Kong - said there had been a rise in harassment in Australia after local pro-Hong Kong protests in 2019. Researchers said they had confirmed three cases where a student's activities in Australia had prompted police in China to visit or get in contact with their families there over their actions. In one case, Chinese authorities also threatened a student with jail after they opened a Twitter account in Australia and posted pro-democracy messages.
Many said they feared fellow students reporting on them to the Chinese embassy.
"Fear that what they did in Australia could result in Chinese authorities punishing or interrogating their parents back home weighed heavily on the minds of every pro-democracy student interviewed," said the report.
The report relayed accounts where students say they were abused verbally in person and online after joining rallies or expressing criticism of the Chinese government. Some were "doxxed" - where their personal details were shared online. In most cases, the students did not report their experience to the universities.
"Fear that what they did in Australia could result in Chinese authorities punishing or interrogating their parents back home weighed heavily on the minds of every pro-democracy student interviewed," said the report.
The report relayed accounts where students say they were abused verbally in person and online after joining rallies or expressing criticism of the Chinese government. Some were "doxxed" - where their personal details were shared online. In most cases, the students did not report their experience to the universities.
The Australian government said it found the report "deeply concerning". There has been growing concern about China's influence on local campuses in recent years, following a deterioration in relations between the two nations. Canberra is already investigating allegations of potential foreign interference.
There are currently about 160,000 Chinese students enrolled in Australian universities. Australia's higher education system is heavily reliant on fee-paying Chinese students, which accounted in pre-COVID times for about 40% of all international students in the country.
There are currently about 160,000 Chinese students enrolled in Australian universities. Australia's higher education system is heavily reliant on fee-paying Chinese students, which accounted in pre-COVID times for about 40% of all international students in the country.
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