Four Corners: Oct 14

Next Monday Four Corners will air a major investigation into the alleged infiltration of Australia’s universities by Beijing.

“Red Flags” is reported by Sean Rubinsztein-Dunlop.

“Australian universities have not been sleepwalking, they’ve been in a coma. It’s astonishing. There is no excuse anymore.” Academic

Australia’s universities are embroiled in a growing geo-political storm amid rising concerns over the Chinese Government’s expanding power abroad.

“We do have an unprecedented level of threat when it comes to foreign interference. The threat continues to evolve.” Federal Minister

On Monday Four Corners will air a major investigation into the infiltration of Australia’s universities by Beijing.

“The Chinese government wants to influence political discussions and gain access to technologies and resources that universities have.” China analyst

Universities earn billions of dollars a year from student fees and research collaborations with China, but there are growing fears these lucrative arrangements may be putting our academic institutions at risk.

“It raises major red flags. A company or an Australian university in my view, shouldn’t be working with the Chinese Communist Party.” Cyber security researcher

From student fees and activism on campus to research partnerships and funding, Australian universities are more exposed to China than ever before. Four Corners will reveal how these concerns extend far beyond attempts to spread propaganda. Sensitive research projects are leading some to warn Australia’s national security could be at risk.

“It’s clearly not in Australia’s interest to be recklessly training scientists who will go on to develop technologies that could be used against our military and against our country.” China analyst

Defenders of Beijing say the focus on China is unwarranted.

“I think it is actually like a witch hunt…China has been labelled as some kind of threat. It’s no longer Yellow Peril, but it’s Red Peril.” Chinese scholar

In a joint investigation, Four Corners & Background Briefing detail how Australian technology and know-how is being used to help strengthen China’s repressive regime.

“It’s best described as tech enhanced authoritarianism. It’s the way that the Chinese Communist Party is using technology to augment…its own political security. Its own position and power is at the core of its concept of state security.” Cyber security researcher

Monday 14th October at 8.30pm on ABC.