An Insight Into Australia's New Round "China Threat Theory" And Its Impacts On Chinese Students In Australia

With the rise of China since its reform and opening up,China has obtained major achievements in its economic and social development.However,along with its rise,a conspiratorial way of looking at the activities of China is reflected in the wave of "China threat theory",whose general idea is that China has posed a threat to other countries in many aspects.The thesis chooses Australia as a specific country to study the groundless concept of "China threat theory"Traditionally,in Australia,a large volume of attacks aiming at China center on areas like military,economy and politics.But since the end of 2016,the new round“China threat theory" has emerged and changed its target to Chinese students in Australia,which has stirred up disturbance in the Australian society.Chinese students are accused of having engaged in Chinese interference in AustraliaThis thesis,hence,makes efforts to study the essence of the new round "China threat theory" and its impacts on Chinese students in Australia.To better complete the study,the author has been to Australia in person to conduct a one-month field research there,during which the author collected first-hand materials and carried out a questionnaire surveyFirst,four incidents happening between Chinese overseas students and Australian universities in 2017 will be presented,which helps to explain the reasons why Chinese students are regarded as a threat by some Australians.The study has found that Chinese students' nationalism,being labelled as "spies" and Australia's economic gains from Chinese students in Australia are three major arguments.In this part,evidence and data are provided to support the analysisSecond,a detailed examination of the attitudes of the Australian government,scholars and media has been made.Generally,those voices fall into two broad groups:anti-China rhetoric which firmly resists the influence of China and impartial voices which defend the Chinese students.From the anti-China zealots,the anxiety of the Australians in face of a rising China can be seen.However,those allegations have proven implausible and unprovoked and would only add to the tension between China and Australia,as raised by some rational AustraliansThird,the thesis investigates the impacts of the new round "China threat theory" on Chinese overseas students.Grounded in questionnaire and data,three conspicuous impacts will be expounded.The safety of Chinese students in Australia has already been endangered and there does exist the problem of visa delay.These concerns further lead to Chinese students'change of choices for studying abroad.In addition,through the research,more long-term negative impacts have been found.The new round“China threat theory" will spoil the image of Chinese students,which also damages the national image of China Therefore,not only will the Chinese students be influenced,but also the China-Australia relations will be tempestuous and strainedResearch in this thesis has been endeavored to find the fundamental causes of the new round“China threat theory".According to some Australians,it is the Chinese students that have put pressure on Australian universities and also,on Australia,but it has been found that the underlying impetus should be the anxiety or panic of the Australians.Through exposition,concerns about Chinese students prove to be wildly overdone.The groundless fear of China would only alienate Chinese students and worsen the bilateral relations.This thesis,hence,is devoted not only to presenting a detailed analysis of the causes and effects of the new round“China threat theory",which could be helpful for people to make sound judgments,but also to raising some suggestions for China and Australia to alleviate the current tension between them.It is expected that the suggestions could be conducive to understanding and dealing with the new round“China threat theory"so as to promote China-Australia relations.