Photo: The presence of students from China contributed greatly to the pace of the Australian economy.
Thursday, June 11, 2020
UPDATimes - The Chinese government warned its students to consider all risks when deciding to study in Australia during the pandemic and as a result of political disputes between countries.
China's education ministry has issued the appeal before campuses in Australia reopen its lectures in July.
The country's higher education authority said the threat of Covid-19 and discrimination against Asian people was a risk that would likely be faced.
The Australian government and university leaders reject the notion that the country is not safe.
On Tuesday, Beijing said in a statement Chinese students must be "careful" when choosing to leave or return to Australia.
"The spread of the Covid-19 outbreak on a global scale has not been effectively controlled, and there is a risk of exposure when traveling internationally and the open campus situation," the ministry said.
"And during the epidemic, there were a number of discriminatory incidents against Asians in Australia."
Responding to the Chinese government's statement, Australian Minister of Education Dan Tehan said his country was a "successful multicultural society" and provided "world-class education".
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He also referred to Australia's success in leveling the corona virus curve, which meant that the country was "one of the safest countries in the world for international students who will stay there, now".
What tensions will spread?
The Chinese government's call comes amid rising tensions between China and Australia during the corona virus pandemic.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated after Australia echoed a statement by the United States (US) asking for an independent investigation into the origins of the corona virus, which was first detected in China at the end of last year.
China rejects such demands and considers them motivated by political motivation. Since then, China has imposed tariffs and blocked the shipment of some Australian imported goods, but they have denied this as economic retaliation.
Last week, the appeal also warned its citizens not to travel to Australia, saying there had been a "significant increase" in racist attacks on Asians in the country.
Education and the world of tourism are Australia's third and fourth largest exports, and are the main booster of the country's economic pace.
Students from China accounted for around 28% of around 750,000 foreign students in Australia last year, according to official Australian government data.
Various universities in Australia have faced financial difficulties during the pandemic, because the policy of closing borders prevented the presence of students from outside the country.
A number of tertiary institutions admit that they are currently facing a financial crisis.
Some universities in Australia could lose $ 8.3 billion over the next two years if Chinese students decide not to continue their studies in the country, according to estimates by Prof. Salvatore Babones of the University of Sydney.
Education 'only pawns in political games'
The Australian Minister of Tourism, Simon Birmingham, said the Chinese government's statement about the danger situation for tourists visiting the country had no basis.
However, a number of government agencies, community groups and the media have listed hundreds of cases of racist attacks and harassment of Asians in Australia since the pandemic.
One of several incidents recorded on video, a woman was accused of racist attacks on two students from the University of Melbourne in April.
On Wednesday, a coalition of leading Australian universities called the Chinese government's appeal "unjustified".
The Group of Eight said they had asked the Chinese Embassy in Australia to cite examples of racist behavior, and they could not.
"What is more worrying is that international education, and especially with China, has once again become a pawn in a political game that is not our decision," said the group's leader, Vicki Thomson.
However, a number of universities in Australia have long been accused by researchers of not providing better support to international students.
The results of a survey of Chinese students in Australia revealed how much they struggled to develop stronger social ties with their friends who were born in Australia, because there was still prejudice.
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