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https://scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3022212/6-events-show-campus-politics-chinesestudentsmatter Politics
6 events where Chinese students were involved in on-campus conflicts
- From brawls over Hong Kong protests to division over Tibet and Xinjiang’s Uygurs, Chinese students at Western universities have made headlines over the years
- Here are six examples
Hong Kong and mainland Chinese students clash during a pro-democracy protest at the University of Queensland in Australia. Photo: Twitter
PROTESTS AGAINST THE DALAI LAMA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
In February 2017, the university said the Buddhist spiritual leader would be giving a commencement speech to graduating students.
About 5,300 of the institution’s 8,792-strong foreign student body are from mainland China, and they protested against the speech using the hashtag #ChineseStudentsMatter – which critics say was co-opted from the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. The local chapter of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) strongly objected to the monk’s visit and said it would take “tough measures to resolutely resist the school’s unreasonable behaviour”.
The event went ahead despite a series of protests by the CSSA, who said they had consulted the Chinese consulate in Los Angeles beforehand.
ANGER AT UYGUR ACTIVIST’S TALK AT MCMASTER UNIVERSITY IN CANADA
A group of Chinese students at the Ontario university in February this year rallied against a presentation by Uygur activist Rukiye Turdush on the mass internment of Muslims in Xinjiang.
The students reported the event to the Chinese consulate, according to The Washington Post , and later published a “bulletin report” co-signed by the local chapter of the CSSA and four other student groups.
The embassy in Ottawa said it strongly supported the “just and patriotic actions” of the students. “Safeguarding sovereignty and opposing separatism are the common position of the international community, and they are also the position the Canadian government upholds,” the embassy said.
Uygur activist Rukiye Turdush was at the centre of a furor in February when she spoke at Canada’s McMaster University. Photo: Handout
STUDENT SCUFFLE AND VANDALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND IN BRISBANE
Clashes took place in late July between Hong Kong and pro-China students during a demonstration to support the city’s extradition bill protests and criticise Beijing’s internment of Uygurs.
Punches were thrown and the Hong Kong protesters claimed mainlanders attacked them without provocation.
The school said security was called to the scene, and later issued this statement: “One of the roles of universities is to enable open, respectful and lawful free speech, including debate about ideas we may not all support or agree with … The university expects staff and students to express their views in a lawful and respectful manner.”
The Chinese consulate in Brisbane later issued a statement praising the “acts of patriotism” and condemning the Hongkongers and their supporters for “igniting anger, sparking protests” and encouraging separatism.
In early August, a Lennon Wall campaign board filled with messages supporting Hong Kong’s protests was torn down by four masked vandals caught on video. The university pledged to take “appropriate action” against any parties involved and found to be associated with the school.
ATTACK ON HONG KONG STUDENT CAPTURED IN VIRAL VIDEO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
The clip from New Zealand last month made headlines after a mainland man pushed a female Hongkonger to the ground over an argument about the university’s own Lennon Wall.
A school spokeswoman said they would enforce formal posting hours for the wall, and would speak with students to see if they wanted to put notes up again. The Chinese consulate praised the mainlander and his peers for their actions “ out of love of China and love of Hong Kong”.
“The consulate general strongly condemns the use of the recent situation in Hong Kong, under the pretext of so-called academic freedom and freedom of expression, to engage in smearing attacks on the Chinese government and the Hong Kong SAR government, inciting anti-China sentiment and creating opposition between Chinese and Hong Kong students,” a statement read.
Hongkonger Serena Lee is seen after having been pushed to the ground during a scuffle at the University of Auckland on July 29, 2019 during an argument over Hong Kong's extradition bill protests.
‘CHINESE COMMUNIST SPIES’ AT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY IN VANCOUVER
Speculation has been rife about a spy at the university after a Lennon Wall was vandalised by an unidentified Mandarin-speaking man captured on video. A new wall, now under careful observation, has since been erected.
The Simon Fraser Student Society issued a statement saying it “stands firmly in support of the right of all Simon Fraser University students to peacefully, respectfully and freely express their views regarding the ongoing political situation in Hong Kong”. University spokeswoman Angela Wilson said the institution would investigate the video.
LENNON WALL VANDALISED AT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN CANBERRA
A wall of messages in support of Hong Kong’s protests that was erected last month at the university became the site of tension among Chinese students. While no physical altercations took place, there were reports of opponents ripping down the wall’s Post-it notes, and verbal confrontations. Neither the school nor Chinese officials commented.