- Title: Australia moves to protect universities from foreign interference
- Date: 28th August 2019
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 28, 2019) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENG SHUANG ARRIVING AT REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "China's so-called infiltration of Australia and other similar sayings are complete nonsense and harbour a hidden agenda. China having practical cooperation and cultural exchanges with Australia on the basis of mutual trust and benefit enhances the mutual understanding between the two countries and meets the common interest of both countries and their people. Politicising cooperation in education and artificially putting up barriers is not good for either side and does not enjoy popular support." JOURNALISTS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENG SHUANG, SAYING: "We hope the Australian side can objectively view China-Australia cooperation in all areas, cherish the fruits of bilateral cooperation and do more to benefit Sino-Australia friendship and mutual trust." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY BUILDING CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG
- Embargoed: 11th September 2019 10:47
- Keywords: Geng Shuang Universities Beijing news conference China Canberra task force Confucius foreign interference foreign ministry Australia
- Location: BEIJING, CHINA / CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
- City: BEIJING, CHINA / CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
- Country: China
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA002AU4S11J
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Australian universities will be required to work with security agencies to ensure they guard against undue foreign interference, Minister for Education Dan Tehan said on Wednesday (August 28).
Foreign students are worth about A$35 billion ($23.64 billion) a year to the Australian economy, with Chinese students accounting for about a third of that figure.
But after a spate of cyber-attacks and fears that China could influence research and students, Tehan said a task-force of university representatives and security agencies would be set up. The task-force would ensure universities had sufficient cyber defences, he said.
Asked about the steps, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said it was nonsense to suggest China was seeking to infiltrate Australia, and that Australia should "do more to benefit Sino-Australian friendship and mutual trust".
Relations between Australia and China have been strained in recent years over Australian fears of Chinese activity, both in Australia and the Pacific region.Tension between the two countries was exacerbated again this week with confirmation of the arrest in China of a Chinese-born Australian writer on suspicion of espionage.
(Production: Wang Shubing, Martin Pollard, James Redmayne) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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