Over 6,000 Australia-China Military Research Collaborations Raise Concerns of Infiltration and Leakage

(CNA, Reporter Chiu Te-chen, Sydney, 19th) "The Australian" reported today that numerous researchers from over 80 Australian research institutions have conducted more than 6,000 joint research projects with Chinese military-related organizations over the past six years. These projects involve technological research that could potentially be used against Australia, raising external concerns about infiltration and security leak risks. "The Australian" cited a report from U.S. intelligence firm Strider Technologies Inc., indicating that multiple researchers from at least 80 Australian research institutions have co-authored papers on military application technologies with counterparts from China's People's Liberation Army National University of Defense Technology and other Chinese military-related institutions. However, Strider Technologies has not publicly disclosed which Australian institutions were involved. The report stated that the newspaper learned researchers from the Australian National University (ANU), the University of Melbourne, and the University of Queensland had collaborated with Chinese counterparts to jointly develop technologies such as drone target tracking, anti-jamming, and new electronic warfare capabilities. The report mentioned that University of Queensland researcher Boyun Gu collaborated with counterparts from the PLA National University of Defense Technology and Beihang University on drone anti-jamming technology, co-publishing a paper in April 2024 that proposed a new algorithm to make drone positioning systems using low Earth orbit satellites more stable and reliable. University of Melbourne researcher Shihao Huang collaborated in 2024 with researchers from Harbin Engineering University to improve the target tracking capabilities of unmanned underwater vehicles in complex underwater environments. Additionally, ANU researcher Boyang Zhang worked with counterparts from the PLA National University of Defense Technology to develop "new electronic warfare algorithms" for "comprehensively jamming" enemy targets while reducing interference with friendly systems. Australian Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare recently ordered the termination of 13 Australian government-funded research collaboration projects involving technology that could potentially be used against Australia. The report quoted Strider Technologies' findings that since 2020, there have been over 6,000 collaborative research projects between Australian researchers and Chinese military-related institutions, and over 500 such projects involving New Zealand researchers. The Strider report warned that these collaborations could be a "key pathway" for China to penetrate various countries' defense innovation sectors. Furthermore, Strider's report noted that China-related research funding and personnel exchanges, "disguised as legitimate academic cooperation," could serve as covert channels for Chinese influence, intelligence gathering, and technology transfer in Australia, posing multiple risks including intellectual property theft and illegal transfer of sensitive technologies. (Editor: Chang Chih-hsuan) 1150519