Security raid on Chinese academic fuels concern over Australia-China exchanges

A Chinese university scholar had equipment seized and was questioned by Australia’s security agency and police in Western Australia last month in an incident that has prompted some Australian academics to reconsider their travel plans to China for fear of reprisals.
The Chinese academic, who specialises in foreign affairs research at a Beijing university, had visited universities in three Australian states in July and August.
The Guardian first reported on Monday that the man had his accommodation raided and his laptop taken by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and Australian Federal Police in Perth, and was told his visa was being assessed for security reasons. He returned to China.
The Chinese national had previously studied in Australia and now worked for a Beijing university where he specialised in foreign policy research, one of the sources added.