As Canberra determines its next steps regarding Beijing’s warning against travel to Australia, so too are the Chinese-Australian diaspora, who may be unduly affected by the move’s diplomatic fallout.
Key points:
- China’s Tourism Administration has advised against travel to Australia because of racism
- Experts say this is reflective of deteriorating bilateral relations, than rather actual safety fears
- Many Chinese-Australians say that Beijing’s decision will do more harm than good
On Saturday, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued an alert warning against travel to Australia, citing a “significant increase” in racist attacks on “Chinese and Asian people”.
“The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reminds Chinese tourists to enhance their safety awareness and do not travel to Australia”.
The move comes weeks after China imposed high tariffs on Australian barley and banned four abattoirs representing 35 per cent of Australia’s Chinese beef exports, a decision some say is a consequence of Canberra’s deteriorating relations with Beijing.
While the Morrison Government resoundingly dismissed Beijing’s warning, anecdotal evidence disclosed to the ABC has shown there has been a spike in racist attacks toward people of East Asian appearance during the coronavirus pandemic.
This has ranged from Asian migrants being evicted for fears of spreading coronavirus, to high-profile acts of vandalism including racist attacks on a Chinese-Australian family’s home happening three times in one week in April.
However, official data from national and state bodies designed to capture instances of racist discrimination do not reflect anecdotal evidence — a disconnect the bodies themselves have suggested may be to do with unfamiliarity or fear of reporting racist incidents.
However, amid this context, some members of Australia’s Chinese diaspora have told the ABC that Beij