Universities are trying to ‘grease the wheels’ on their relationship with China

Liberal Senator James Paterson says many Australian universities are likely housing Confucius Institutes on their campuses in a bid to “grease the wheels” on their relationships with China. At least two Chinese language centres located on university campuses are under review as concerns are raised they could have detrimental links to the Chinese government. Mr Paterson told Sky News universities need to “think very carefully” about making sure the values held by a foreign power investing in their operations were consistent with their own. He said “dissident” students from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan had told him they felt unsafe being on a campus that housed a Confucius Institute. “I think that’s not an unreasonable feeling that they have.” Mr Paterson also said universities had likely agreed to the language centres “because it’s about engagement with China and the Chinese government and they think that other things will flow from it, like large numbers of Chinese international students or other research agreements”. “Many universities have not managed that relationship prudently, they’ve exposed themselves to serious financial and other risks.” Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au