Australia not safe for Chinese students

Concerns have emerged for the safety of Chinese students in Australia after two Chinese men were assaulted in a robbery in Sydney.

The incident took place on a train between Sydney’s Central Station and Rockdale on Monday night, where it is reported Australian youths assaulted two Chinese students who were among the passengers robbed.

Police have arrested six people between the ages of 14 and 18 and heard reports of racial slurs involved in the robbery.

A police statement has revealed that one man suffered, “a fractured cheekbone and nose… as well as burns from a lit cigarette”.

“A second male victim also suffered burns to the face during the alleged robbery,” it said.

The two victims have been identified as Chinese students. Xuan, a 29-year-old masters student at the University of Technology Sydney, was involved in the attack wrote of his experience on his blog page.

“A gang of hooligans attacked us. Our noses are fractured and our bodies are covered in blood,” reads the post according to a translation by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“My friend’s cheekbone was crushed. They attacked us with glass and burnt us with lit cigarettes. My face is burnt and totally disfigured. Worst of all, I really hated their racist comments.”

The China Central Television network has warned that a rise in violent Aussie youths could pose a serious threat to the safety of Chinese students.

“Once upon a time, Australia had one of the lowest crime rates in the world and was considered one of the safest places to study. However, the safety of overseas students studying here is under threat from escalating youth crime,” CCTV reported.

The Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney has also issued a warning recommending Chinese students exert caution and avoid unnecessary travel after dark.

A spokesman from the Chinese association of the University of Wollongong has remarked that racism is something every international student deals with at some point in their time in Australia.

(Image taken from Xuan’s blog)