2023-09-11 14:45:34
(Archyde.com, Sydney, 11th) Last month, a Chinese scholar had his laptop confiscated in Western Australia and was questioned by security agencies and police. The incident has led some Australian academics to reassess their plans to travel to China, fearing retaliation.
This Chinese scholar, who is engaged in foreign affairs research at a university in Beijing, visited universities in three Australian states in July and August.
The British newspaper The Guardian first revealed today that officers from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police searched the male academic’s home in Perth and confiscated his pen. He called and informed authorities that his visa was being evaluated for security reasons. He has since returned to China.
After the report came to light, three people familiar with the matter confirmed some of the details mentioned in the report to Archyde.com.
One of the sources revealed that the Chinese citizen had previously studied in Australia and now works at a university in Beijing, specializing in foreign policy research.
After years of political disputes, diplomatic relations between China and Australia have recently stabilized, with China lifting restrictions on many Australian exports; Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also confirmed last week that he will travel to Beijing this year visit.
The high-level dialogue between Chinese and Australian academic, industry and media delegations resumed in Beijing on the 7th of this month following a four-year hiatus. A Chinese scholar in the delegation had his Australian visa revoked by ASIO in 2020 due to concerns regarding foreign interference in internal affairs.
James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, pointed out that this incident may lead to another interruption in academic exchanges between Australia and China.
He said: “Any Chinese scholars interested in relations with Australia will definitely re-evaluate their travel plans because they are worried that the same thing will happen to them. And Australian scholars considering going to China will now also worry regarding Chinese security The agency retaliates tit for tat.”
Greg McCarthy, dean of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide, also said he was worried regarding the impact this matter would have on scholars from both countries.
“If the report is true, it is very worrying because it will affect research exchanges between Australia and China,” he said.
ASIO and the Australian Federal Police both declined to comment on the reports. Central News Agency (translation)
Chinese scholar raided by authorities Australian academics fear retaliation from Beijing
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