Archive · 18 Aug 2026
China slams Australia over directive to end university collaborations
China and Australia are having a disagreement about schools working together on science.
Australia told two of its universities to stop working with two Chinese universities.
Australia is worried that the projects might be unsafe and could help build weapons.
A big American military group also put one of the Chinese schools on a special watch list.
China says this is not fair.
A spokesperson for China said countries should be free to work together on education and research.
He said using the word 'national security' to stop this is not right.
On the same day, Australia and Japan celebrated working together on a powerful laser.
The laser can spot and stop drones and missiles from far away.
The two countries also plan to test new missiles in Australia.
China condemned Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong's directive for two Australian universities to end collaborations with Chinese institutions over national security concerns.
The Australian National University was told to terminate collaboration with Shandong University, and the University of Queensland with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jiang said China opposes abusing the concept of national security to restrict normal international cooperation on education and research.
The US Pentagon recently added Shandong University to a list of foreign institutions involved in 'problematic activities', citing concerns about research that could be misappropriated.
On the same day, Australian and Japanese defence ministers announced a 'significant milestone' on co-developing a high-energy laser and a deal to test advanced missiles on Australian soil.
- Who
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jiang, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Australia and Japan's defence ministers Richard Marles and Shinjiro Koizumi.
- What
- China criticized Australia's directive to two universities to terminate collaborations with Chinese institutions over national security concerns, while Australia and Japan announced progress on a high-energy laser project and a missile testing deal.
- When
- August 18, reported as Tuesday.
- Where
- Beijing, where China responded; the Australia-Japan defence ministerial meeting was held in Canberra.
- Why
- Australia reassessed security risks associated with Chinese institutions, spurred partly by the US Pentagon listing Shandong University for 'problematic activities' and Australian assessments citing its links to the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, which is involved in China's nuclear-weapons research and development.
China's Position
Australia's Security Concerns
University research collaborations
China's Position
The collaborations with Australian universities are normal international cooperation on education and research, and restricting them abuses the concept of national security.
Australia's Security Concerns
Australia reassessed the security risks associated with the Chinese institutions, which included concerns about research and development that could be misappropriated and links to an institute involved in China's nuclear-weapons research and development.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson
- Lin Jiang
- Australian Foreign Minister
- Penny Wong
- Australian universities affected
- Australian National University; University of Queensland
- Chinese institutions affected
- Shandong University; Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Cited national security concern
- Shandong University's links to the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, involved in China's nuclear-weapons research and development
- US designation
- US Pentagon added Shandong University to its list of foreign institutions involved in 'problematic activities'
- Australia-Japan defence milestone
- Co-development of a high-energy laser weapon with successful field trials; deal to test advanced missiles on Australian soil
- Defence ministers' meeting location
- Canberra