Aussie universities’ China dealings raise national security fears

Australian universities must be forced to be transparent about their dealings with China due to mounting fears over national security, an inquiry has heard.

Australian universities are “unwilling” to be transparent about their dealings with China, a federal government inquiry has been told.

Associate Professor Salvatore Babones has told the Inquiry into national security risks affecting the Australian higher education and research sector that Australian universities should be forced to be transparent about their dealings with China by the government.

The government inquiry was established over fears China was infiltrating Australia’s university sector — leading to fears the nation’s national security could ­become compromised.

“Australian universities’ hunger for Chinese revenues to support their research ambitions poses systemic risks of ­institutional capture by a foreign and potentially hostile state of what are (or should be) primarily public service institutions,” Associate Professor Babones said.

“There is no reason to believe that Australian universities have engaged in any illegal acts in their engagement with China and Chinese students, but their public behaviour has often suggested that they are at serious risk of moral subversion.

“Keeping in mind the very serious human rights and international law violations of the Chinese government, Australian universities should exercise full transparency (and extreme caution) in their dealings with China.”

In its submission to the ­inquiry the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) warned that Australia’s higher education and research sector is at risk from espionage and foreign interference.

“Their work leads to the development of proprietary and other sensitive information critical to the development of new technologies, medicines, techniques and practices that are fundamental to the future of Australia’s economy, military capabilities and security,” ASIO said in its submission to the inquiry.

“We are aware of researchers and their families who have been threatened, coerced or intimidated by actors seeking to have their sensitive research provided to a foreign state.

“We are also aware of attempts to steal sensitive Australian intellectual property as part of cyber compromises.”

ASIO said that putting “effective mechanisms” in place to counter foreign interference should not come at the ­expense of openness and collaboration which was needed for the higher education and research sector to thrive.

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