China-Australia relations: Beijing warns overseas students in Australia, saying ‘vicious incidents’ threaten their safety

China’s Ministry of Education refers to attacks on overseas students in Australia, and the ‘great risks’ of travelling during the coronavirus pandemic

Warning comes after Chinese state media this week accused Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison of being ‘disingenuous’ in his recent calls to repair ties

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China’s Ministry of Education has again warned overseas students of studying in Australia, citing “vicious incidents”, including attacks on people of Asian descent. Photo: AFP

Orange Wang

Published: 6:15pm, 5 Feb 2021Updated: 10:56pm, 5 Feb 2021

China is again warning its students studying in Australia, telling them to be aware of a “serious threat” to their safety.

In an alert issued on Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Education pointed to “successive vicious incidents of overseas students being attacked in many places in Australia”, without giving specific examples.

It also noted that international travel still poses great risks amid the coronavirus pandemic, urging overseas students to “conduct proper safety risks assessments, and be cautious in choosing to go to or return to Australia for their studies”.

The ministry issued a similar warning in June, urging Chinese students to consider the risks of studying in Australia. That statement also cited the impact of the pandemic and a spike in racial discrimination against people of Asian descent.

The latest warning further highlights the strained ties between the two countries. Trade relations began to deteriorate after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called in April for an international probe into the origins of the coronavirus without consulting Beijing.