Experts warn Chinese students about risks of studying in Australia

Experts have cautioned Chinese students against studying in Australia due to safety risks and incidents of racial discrimination.

Zhang Lin, executive deputy director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, said there is a high risk of contracting the novel coronavirus in Australia as the country has relaxed its epidemic containment measures and reopened its borders to international travelers.

Moreover, the Australian government and media have pushed anti-China rhetoric, and there have been more incidents of racism against Asian people since the onset of the epidemic in the country, Zhang said.

Australia has also increased its scrutiny of Chinese students applying for visas. It seems the Australian government intends to diversify its international students, which means Chinese students will be less likely to be enrolled by its universities, she said.

China is the largest source of international students for Australia.

Recently, two Chinese students entering the nation were interrogated by Australian law enforcement and later repatriated after photos of them undergoing military training in college were found on their cellphones.

The United States has also taken a similar stance against Chinese students. Australia has mimicked the US's China policy, and the recent incidents are further proof that the Australian government is politicizing international education, Zhang said.

"Australia's atmosphere is becoming less friendly to international students and is no longer a reliable destination for international education," she said.

Zhang also pointed out that the quality of Australia's higher education has been undermined due to lower revenue from fewer international students.

Chen Xi, assistant to the director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, said a failure to contain the epidemic has also prompted many Australian people to protest in the streets, and some of the demonstrations have turned violent.

A resurgence of nationalism among some Australian people has also led to discriminatory remarks and even violence against Chinese people, Chen said.

There are signs with words such as "Chinese students forbidden" and "Kill Chinese" that have been seen at several Australian universities. Such rhetoric has threatened the safety of Chinese students, she said.

In line with the US, the Australian government has repeatedly tried to undermine China's core interests and bilateral ties, and its actions have caused Sino-Australian relations to sink to a new low, she said.

Australia was once one of the most popular international education destinations for Chinese students due to its educational resources and pleasant living environment, yet the series of discriminatory incidents has made it less appealing, she added.