Page 11 - The Giant Awakens - A Collection of Insights into Chinese Government Influence in Australia
P. 11
Chinese Students Aren’t Simply
Tools of the Party-State
MERRIDEN Many Australians are government view. then some time in the future. have spoken to say they have
VARRALL becoming increasingly When I began teaching, I Those students who did never experienced this.
concerned about
This importing China’s growing influence in was not given any guidance engage in critical discussion The issue is a very complex
of Chinese their country. Media reports or warnings about the topics I were usually shut down by one. When Chinese students
academic culture such as the Four Corners/Fairfax could cover in the classroom, classmates who stuck firmly to self-censor or monitor and
has potential joint investigation aired in June or the way I should teach. But the standard officially-accepted report on their peers, it is not
to disrupt this year argue that Chinese throughout the year, I was given line. necessarily because the Chinese
the openness money is being funneled into strong hints that my approach state is bearing down on them.
and critical our political processes. Others was inappropriate. In one session, two students Rather, many Chinese students
analysis valued show that Chinese state-run gave a presentation that painted believe that speaking out against
in Australian newspaper inserts are promoting For example, at my midyear the Japanese in a negative the officially approved view,
universities. the official Chinese view on review, I was advised by my light. One of their classmates on any topic, is inappropriate.
local and regional issues. There department leadership that my wondered aloud whether Monitoring and reporting on
PHOTO: YAN XIA is also coverage about Chinese approach of “trying to teach Chinese people still needed to peers who diverge from the
companies buying Australian through rumor and hearsay” hate Japan. Another suggested party line is seen as the right
farmland and natural resources. was unsuitable. When I refused that China may also publish thing to do. This does not
to change my methods, I was textbooks with self-serving necessarily mean, however, that
This anxiety extends to told that I would not receive interpretations of history, as they are automatons blindly
Australia’s universities, where, my bonus and that my contract Japan does. Outrage erupted. following the Chinese state.
according to some media reports, would not be renewed. One student furiously accused
Chinese “embassy stooges” the two of “not loving China Universities have not adequately
monitor and report on Chinese Those warnings came not only enough.” addressed this threat to debate
students who fail to toe the Party from the administration but and openness. Officials may
line. from the students themselves. Students from mainland China be reluctant to take action
tend to bring their learning because overseas students bring
Concerns about spying within On several occasions, my students experiences and preferences a lot of money to underfunded
universities reflect the more – always very respectfully – with them when they come to Australian universities. Because
complicated matter of how suggested I use a different style Australian universities. many Chinese students have
mainland Chinese students of teaching. They did not like internalized the importance
approach their academic life sitting in a circle and discussing In Australia, some Chinese of being aligned with official
in China, and how that may be ideas. They told me they would students have said they fear views, maintaining Australia’s
subtly being transferred to their prefer a lecture-style format speaking up in class because standards for free and open
Australian education. where I “drew on my expertise” they worry their compatriots debate could be a challenge.
to teach them what was will report them to Embassy There are a number of ways
With almost 150,000 Chinese necessary for them to know. authorities. Some students ask this situation can be addressed,
students currently studying to be placed in tutorial groups the first of which should be for
in Australia, up from some Overall, many of my students without other Chinese citizens Australian universities to focus
125,400 in 2016, this importing were uncomfortable with my so they can speak openly. on understanding the problem
of Chinese academic culture has approach to teaching, based as in all its complexity.
potential to disrupt the openness it was on critical analysis and The recent ABC-Fairfax report
and critical analysis valued in picking apart expert opinion. gave the example of Lupin Lu, This is an edited version of an article
Australian universities. This was particularly true for head of the Chinese Students first published in the New York Times on
readings and class discussions and Scholars Association chapter 31 July 2017. Reprinted with permission.
In 2008-9, I taught international that could be construed as at the University of Canberra.
relations to undergraduates at a critical of China. Ms. Lu said she would not Dr. Merriden Varrall is the director
Chinese university in Beijing. My hesitate to inform officials at the of the East Asia Program at the Lowy
teaching approach drew on my Most students, for example, Chinese Embassy if she heard Institute. Before joining the Lowy
own experience at universities would reject any suggestion of Chinese students organizing, Institute, Merriden was the Assistant
in Australia and Europe. I that China had not always been, for example, protests against Country Director and Senior Policy
structured the course so that and would therefore always Beijing. Advisor at United Nations Development
students were given weekly be, peaceful. The majority Program, China. Merriden has spent
readings which we would would react angrily to anything Sally Sargeson, an associate almost eight years living and working
discuss together in class. implying that Japan was not professor at the Australian in China, including lecturing in foreign
an inherently aggressive and National University, told Forbes policy at the China Foreign Affairs
My time teaching in Beijing expansionist country. magazine that every Chinese University and conducting fieldwork for
gave me a window into student she asked about this her doctoral research. For more work by
Chinese students’ attitudes Some students did tell me in problem “said they know they Dr Varrall, refer to:
and behaviour. One thing that private that they were afraid to are being monitored and adjust www.lowyinstitute.org/people/experts/
particularly struck me was the express their real views in class. their speech so they will not get publication/merriden-varrall
tendency for students to align They said that they feared their into trouble.” It should be noted,
themselves with the Chinese peers would report on them and however, that several Chinese
that they would receive a black students in Australia whom I
mark on their record, if not now,
Many Chinese students believe that speaking
out against the officially approved view, on
any topic, is inappropriate.
The Giant Awakens: Chinese Government Influence in Australia 11
Tools of the Party-State
MERRIDEN Many Australians are government view. then some time in the future. have spoken to say they have
VARRALL becoming increasingly When I began teaching, I Those students who did never experienced this.
concerned about
This importing China’s growing influence in was not given any guidance engage in critical discussion The issue is a very complex
of Chinese their country. Media reports or warnings about the topics I were usually shut down by one. When Chinese students
academic culture such as the Four Corners/Fairfax could cover in the classroom, classmates who stuck firmly to self-censor or monitor and
has potential joint investigation aired in June or the way I should teach. But the standard officially-accepted report on their peers, it is not
to disrupt this year argue that Chinese throughout the year, I was given line. necessarily because the Chinese
the openness money is being funneled into strong hints that my approach state is bearing down on them.
and critical our political processes. Others was inappropriate. In one session, two students Rather, many Chinese students
analysis valued show that Chinese state-run gave a presentation that painted believe that speaking out against
in Australian newspaper inserts are promoting For example, at my midyear the Japanese in a negative the officially approved view,
universities. the official Chinese view on review, I was advised by my light. One of their classmates on any topic, is inappropriate.
local and regional issues. There department leadership that my wondered aloud whether Monitoring and reporting on
PHOTO: YAN XIA is also coverage about Chinese approach of “trying to teach Chinese people still needed to peers who diverge from the
companies buying Australian through rumor and hearsay” hate Japan. Another suggested party line is seen as the right
farmland and natural resources. was unsuitable. When I refused that China may also publish thing to do. This does not
to change my methods, I was textbooks with self-serving necessarily mean, however, that
This anxiety extends to told that I would not receive interpretations of history, as they are automatons blindly
Australia’s universities, where, my bonus and that my contract Japan does. Outrage erupted. following the Chinese state.
according to some media reports, would not be renewed. One student furiously accused
Chinese “embassy stooges” the two of “not loving China Universities have not adequately
monitor and report on Chinese Those warnings came not only enough.” addressed this threat to debate
students who fail to toe the Party from the administration but and openness. Officials may
line. from the students themselves. Students from mainland China be reluctant to take action
tend to bring their learning because overseas students bring
Concerns about spying within On several occasions, my students experiences and preferences a lot of money to underfunded
universities reflect the more – always very respectfully – with them when they come to Australian universities. Because
complicated matter of how suggested I use a different style Australian universities. many Chinese students have
mainland Chinese students of teaching. They did not like internalized the importance
approach their academic life sitting in a circle and discussing In Australia, some Chinese of being aligned with official
in China, and how that may be ideas. They told me they would students have said they fear views, maintaining Australia’s
subtly being transferred to their prefer a lecture-style format speaking up in class because standards for free and open
Australian education. where I “drew on my expertise” they worry their compatriots debate could be a challenge.
to teach them what was will report them to Embassy There are a number of ways
With almost 150,000 Chinese necessary for them to know. authorities. Some students ask this situation can be addressed,
students currently studying to be placed in tutorial groups the first of which should be for
in Australia, up from some Overall, many of my students without other Chinese citizens Australian universities to focus
125,400 in 2016, this importing were uncomfortable with my so they can speak openly. on understanding the problem
of Chinese academic culture has approach to teaching, based as in all its complexity.
potential to disrupt the openness it was on critical analysis and The recent ABC-Fairfax report
and critical analysis valued in picking apart expert opinion. gave the example of Lupin Lu, This is an edited version of an article
Australian universities. This was particularly true for head of the Chinese Students first published in the New York Times on
readings and class discussions and Scholars Association chapter 31 July 2017. Reprinted with permission.
In 2008-9, I taught international that could be construed as at the University of Canberra.
relations to undergraduates at a critical of China. Ms. Lu said she would not Dr. Merriden Varrall is the director
Chinese university in Beijing. My hesitate to inform officials at the of the East Asia Program at the Lowy
teaching approach drew on my Most students, for example, Chinese Embassy if she heard Institute. Before joining the Lowy
own experience at universities would reject any suggestion of Chinese students organizing, Institute, Merriden was the Assistant
in Australia and Europe. I that China had not always been, for example, protests against Country Director and Senior Policy
structured the course so that and would therefore always Beijing. Advisor at United Nations Development
students were given weekly be, peaceful. The majority Program, China. Merriden has spent
readings which we would would react angrily to anything Sally Sargeson, an associate almost eight years living and working
discuss together in class. implying that Japan was not professor at the Australian in China, including lecturing in foreign
an inherently aggressive and National University, told Forbes policy at the China Foreign Affairs
My time teaching in Beijing expansionist country. magazine that every Chinese University and conducting fieldwork for
gave me a window into student she asked about this her doctoral research. For more work by
Chinese students’ attitudes Some students did tell me in problem “said they know they Dr Varrall, refer to:
and behaviour. One thing that private that they were afraid to are being monitored and adjust www.lowyinstitute.org/people/experts/
particularly struck me was the express their real views in class. their speech so they will not get publication/merriden-varrall
tendency for students to align They said that they feared their into trouble.” It should be noted,
themselves with the Chinese peers would report on them and however, that several Chinese
that they would receive a black students in Australia whom I
mark on their record, if not now,
Many Chinese students believe that speaking
out against the officially approved view, on
any topic, is inappropriate.
The Giant Awakens: Chinese Government Influence in Australia 11
