Australian Education Minister Dan Tehan said the country was a multicultural society that welcomed international visitors. — AFP pic
The advisory was the latest in an escalating dispute between Beijing and Canberra that was deepened by Australia’s call for an independent inquiry into the origin and handling of the coronavirus in central China last year. “Our success at flattening the curve means we are one of the safest countries in the world for international students to be based in right now,” he said in a statement.Racism toward Asians has reportedly increased during the pandemic, with the New South Wales anti-discrimination commission saying instances included people being bullied for wearing a face mask, spat at and harassed in public, and racist language written across cars and private property.
Beijing’s travel advice was largely symbolic but could interfere with a proposal to create a “secure corridor” for overseas students to return to Australia.