The Australian government has been urged to take stronger action to protect overseas students from political repression.
The Australian government has been urged to take stronger action to protect Chinese international students from political repression by authorities on their return after a Chinese student was allegedly sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for joining pro-democracy protests in Australia.
The student, who the Guardian has chosen not to name, lost contact with his friends in Sydney after returning to China in December 2024.
He was known to have plans to stay in Australia after graduation. Two employers also confirmed with Guardian Australia that they have lost contact with the student since January 2025.
A representative of the student’s family in Australia told the Guardian that the student was arrested and charged with secession for participating in pro-democracy protests in Sydney, including two solidarity protests for China’s ethnic minorities.
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The student allegedly went on trial ahead of China’s introduction of the ethnic unity law, which human rights advocates have argued worsens existing restrictions on minority groups’ use of their languages.
A number of people who previously participated in rallies in Sydney critical of the Chinese government said they knew the student through the events.
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Maya Wang, the deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said his arrest could be part of broader political repression targeting Chinese international students who arrived in the west after the 2022 “white paper” protests.
In December 2022, hundreds of young Chinese people gathered and held white papers in several cities in China to protest amid anger over harsh Covid lockdown measures.
The protest, which was one of the biggest youth-led rallies in China since the 1989 Tiananmen protest, had pushed Beijing to end Covid lockdown measures, while authorities began arresting protesters.
Wang said that while China traditionally focused on suppressing activism within the country, its focus has shifted to overseas after migration waves in recent years.
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“They have kind of intimidated enough people inside China, and then people move abro
ad and continue to activism, or experience new activism – because many of these students are new activists – then naturally, your focus of enforcement moves abroad,” said Wang.
“The young students today, are, as a group, more problematic from the Chinese government point [of view].”
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In 2021, a report by Human Rights Watch revealed Chinese pro-democracy students faced intimidation and harassment and fear of reprisal.
In September, the Guardian reported that 22-year-old Chinese student Yadi Zhang was detained in China allegedly over her involvement in activism for Tibet.
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The shadow home affairs and immigration minister, Jonno Duniam, said the case of the missing student was “deeply concerning”, and said universities have “a clear responsibility to ensure all students can speak freely without intimidation”.
“The Albanese government and universities must have strong safeguards against foreign interference and ensure robust protections for students exercising free speech. This includes clear reporting mechanisms and consequences for intimidation or coercion,” he said.
In a statement, a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said it won’t comment on individual cases for privacy reasons, but “it is unacceptable for any foreign government to target members of our community in ways that prevent individuals exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms in Australia”.
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