Tag Archives: Diaspora

Foreign interference and the Chinese diaspora: guilty until proven innocent?

Posted on 14 July 2020 by Yun Jiang

Media reporting and public commentary on China’s foreign interference efforts in Australia have focused heavily on alleged associations and links between Australian organisations or individuals and the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front system. The focus on these, rather than actual improper or illegal actions, is concerning — especially as the implications of these alleged associations … more

Before coronavirus, China was falsely blamed for spreading smallpox. Racism played a role then, too

Posted on 14 May 2020 by Ari Heinrich

Spitting. Name-calling. Physical assaults. The outbreak of COVID-19 has coincided with a dramatic escalation in racially motivated incidents towards people of Asian descent around the world. US President Donald Trump has fuelled these attacks with his strident criticisms of China’s handling of the pandemic, unsubstantiated claims the virus originated in a lab in Wuhan and … more

COVID-19 racism echoes historical anti-Chinese sentiment

Posted on 15 April 2020 by Osmond Chiu

COVID-19 has resulted in racist abuse and unsubstantiated claims of hoarding against Chinese and other Asian-Australians. Narratives about disease and competition for resources echo themes in anti-Chinese campaigns during the 19th century that shaped Australia’s identity. The Australian government has failed to adopt policies to educate the community about casual racism, making these deeply rooted … more