Stronger Support Needed so Chinese-Australians Can Freely Criticise Beijing: Academic

His comments come in response to Australian journalist Cheng Lei’s concerns that locals have a deep fear of Beijing.
Stronger Support Needed so Chinese-Australians Can Freely Criticise Beijing: Academic
Armed policemen patrol during the opening session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2025. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
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Australians, including politicians, have nothing to fear from speaking out against Beijing, according to the director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, Professor James Laurenceson.

Speaking at the Brisbane Dialogues along with Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who spent almost three years in a Chinese prison when working as a business reporter for the state-run TV station CGTN.
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.