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basis, however, it is, by a vast difference,
the most collaborative, and UNSW
publishes the most joint, peer-reviewed
articles in this regard.
The university defended this practice.
“In all of our collaborative work, UNSW
conducts rigorous assessments as
required by the Australian government’s
Defence Export Controls framework,”
vice-chancellor Ian Jacobs said in a
statement provided to Campus Review.
Yet what about the PLA members they
don’t know about?
“While most PLA scientists don’t
disguise their background when
overseas, my report identifies 24 new
cases of scientists hiding their military
affiliation while travelling outside China,
including 17 who came to Australia,”
report author Alex Joske, a researcher at
ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre,
wrote in an accompanying editorial.
By way of example, he relayed how
in 2016, the PLA’s National University
of Defence Technology sent
Chinese student Huang Xianjun to
the University of Manchester. There,
he completed a PhD, the result of a
collaboration with the discoverers of
graphene. This material is 200 times
stronger than steel, yet much more
flexible and electrically conductive.
It can be used as a coating to make
machines like submarines almost
undetectable by radar. A Chinese
newspaper referred to Huang’s
activities as “picking flowers in foreign
lands; making honey in China”.
“Helping the Chinese military bring
its scientific talent and knowledge up to
world-class standards is not in Australia’s
interests and demands a response from
the government and universities,” Joske
contended.
“The Defence Trade Controls Act
should be amended to restrict transfers
of sensitive technologies to members
of non-allied militaries such as the PLA
when they’re in Australia. More effective
immigration vetting.”
A Department of Defence
spokesperson informed Campus
Review that a report, arising from
a 2012 government-commissioned
review into the Act, is “currently under
consideration”.
The Chinese embassy in Canberra
offered its thoughts on the subject at
large. It pointed to a transcript of a press
conference held by China’s foreign
ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying,
in July. In addition to calling the US’s
accusations “groundless”, Hua defended
China’s innovation record. “Facts speak
louder than words,” she said.
“According to relevant statistics, the
number of China’s innovation‑oriented
companies ranks second worldwide,
and China is second only to the
US in the amount of received patent
applications based on the Patent
Cooperation Treaty.” ■
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