China Protests To Australia Over Student Repatriation

Beijing has complained to Australia about turning back Chinese students who had flown to Sydney because they did not disclose that they had undergone mandatory military training at Chinese universities.

Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing on Tuesday that several Chinese students recently had their visas revoked and were repatriated when they tried to enter Australia.

Australian border officials, who presumed that mandatory military training organised by Chinese universities was equivalent to actual military service, repatriated the students for failing to disclose this information about themselves, Wang said.

It is compulsory for students at Chinese universities to go through a short stint of military training at the start of their first year. The training typically takes between seven and 24 days, and is aimed at instilling in a sense of patriotism and collectivism.

"The Australian behaviour goes against the nature of people-to-people interaction and win-win cooperation," Wang said.

An Australian Border Force spokesperson said the government body did not comment on individual cases but that it "can and does cancel visas at the border if a traveller has provided false information".

"We are committed to facilitating the entry of legitimate visa holders into Australia, but will not hesitate to use the powers we have to protect Australia’s national interests when required," the spokesman added. (Reuters)