Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Michael Shoebridge says the Chinese government convincing its citizens not to attend Australian universities is another example of “economic coercion” by China.
“They are encouraging parents not to send their students to Australia”, he said.
“One of their angles is to stoke ‘security and safety concerns’ which is absolutely ludicrous when you look at any of the statistics – this is one of the safest places on the planet for foreign students.
“It is another angle in the economic coercion of Australia from Beijing.”
Mr Shoebridge said this attitude has become the new “business reality” for any country which is majorly dependent on the “big single market of China.”
Mr Shoebridge also said universities are not doing enough to curb the threat of foreign interference.
“There is a real whiff of complacency from them.”
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