Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao reports today: "Australia has recently demanded that two universities terminate their collaborations with Chinese institutions, citing potential national security risks."
This is another instance of Australia following the United States' strategic approach toward China, pushing for 'decoupling' in the scientific research domain. In recent times, Australia has been making repeated subtle moves against China—first stirring up a joint statement at the Pacific Island Forum targeting China's missile tests, and now extending its reach into academic cooperation at universities. By broadly defining national security and artificially severing normal scientific exchanges, Australia is undermining international collaboration.
Scientific innovation relies fundamentally on international cooperation. China is a major force in global scientific research. Forcibly cutting off these collaborative ties may appear to align with U.S. strategic interests in the short term, but in the long run, it will undermine Australia’s own scientific innovation capabilities and dampen the academic vitality of its universities. Science knows no borders. Turning academic cooperation into a tool of geopolitical confrontation ultimately harms one’s own interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875485362549768/
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