Australia dismisses China’s pandemic-era racism warning to students

Australian education minister said the country was a multicultural society that welcomed foreign visitors after Beijing warned students of the dangers of studying Down Under

The advisory was the latest in an escalating spat between Beijing and Canberra that was triggered by Australia’s call for a probe into Covid-19 origin

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Education is Australia’s fourth-largest export, with more than 500,000 international students enrolled last year. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:15am, 10 Jun 2020Updated: 9:52pm, 10 Jun 2020

Australian officials and leading universities on Wednesday rejected China’s claims students should be “cautious” in choosing to study Down Under because of concerns over racist incidents during the coronavirus pandemic.

China’s ministry of education warned students on Tuesday there had been “multiple discriminatory incidents against Asians in Australia” during the pandemic, ramping up diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

The advisory was the latest in an escalating dispute between Beijing and Canberra that was deepened by Australia’s call for an independent inquiry into the origin and handling of the coronavirus in central China last year.

Beijing reacted furiously to the demand, targeting Canberra on several fronts, including tourism, trade and now Chinese students, the largest overseas group in Australian universities.

Australian Education Minister Dan Tehan hit back on Wednesday, saying the country was a multicultural society that welcomed international visitors.

“Our success at flattening the curve means we are one of the safest countries in the world for international students to be based in right now,” he said in a statement.