Australia’s China illiteracy has dangerous consequences - Yun Jiang

A 2023 report published by the Australian Academy of Humanities highlighted the steady decline in China studies in Australia, especially in universities. [...] As a result, Australia sees China through a security-only lens, with China often portrayed as the enemy in the national security community. [...] Those who put in the effort to explain to the public why certain developments occur in China or the motivations of the Chinese government are sometimes accused of being China apologists or siding with the enemy. [...] On a societal level, without an understanding of the social and cultural developments and the plurality of voices inside China, many Australians will see China as a monolith. [...] The danger is that Australians will only see the state and the Party and lose sight of the people.