For years, Australia’s security agencies have warned the country’s universities about the possibility of foreign interference. Behind closed doors, they even name their culprit: Beijing. Why would the Chinese be interested in infiltrating Australian universities, and what does this espionage mean for the integrity of the education system and overall national security? ABC News’ Four Corners series is investigating the red flags.
It started as a scheme nearly two decades ago and was only recently discovered. Hackers have been caught preying on students and staff by exploiting vulnerabilities in academic networks. The operation is apparently well organized and well funded. However, this is not a simple breach related to credit card accounts or identity theft. The Australian National University has graduated thousands of students who go on to work in national security. What if these hackers collected leaked information on some of these students and planned to use the material for blackmail purposes? It is suspected that the Chinese Communist Party is likely behind these cyberattacks.
The story doesn’t end here. Australian universities receive significant funding from China through tuition fees and joint research projects. Groups such as the Chinese Students and Scholars Association have begun hiring student services to expand their communist influence on campus. Student protests have erupted at several universities and have often turned violent between pro-Beijing and anti-Beijing protesters.
These factors create the appearance of a conflict of interest. How far can universities extend their sphere of influence before giving up their autonomy?
The film contains interviews with various security experts, university representatives and members of the student body. Some of those students felt they were being unfairly targeted by the media, which they said would be quick to accuse students of spying for the Chinese Communist regime.
Red Flags expertly outlines an intricate and advanced espionage system. The film is also a stark warning to university administrators and government regulators who have been lax in responding to these potential threats.
