Struggle For Chinese Democracy Erupts at University of Sydney

University says it respects students' right to express views by ripping up democracy posters

A general view of Sydney University campus in Sydney, Australia, on April 6, 2016. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Pro-Beijing Chinese students have launched a targeted campaign against anti-Communist demonstrators on another Australian university’s campus.

“I got kicked a lot. [They] kicked my Pooh’s head off,” said Aaron Chang, a Chinese student who has been trying to raise people’s awareness of the true situation in communist China by attending protests dressed as Winnie the Pooh.

Chang, who is using an alias due to security concerns, talked to The Epoch Times about his experience after he donned his iconic Winnie the Pooh costume again and staged protests to recruit “rebel Chinese youth.”

Other than hanging banners denouncing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping as a “dictatorial traitor,” Chang also hung up huge customised QR codes so students could join his anti-CCP group, Youth of the Chinese Revolution—100 people joined the organization in the three days prior to the removal of the posters.

However, not all Chinese students in the university welcomed his presence.

Verbal Abuse and Physical Attacks

Chang alleges that a total of six batches of people came to Chang over a four-day period, tearing down his signs and QR codes, trying to take his phone, hurling verbal abuse at him, pushing him over, and even kicking him.

He recorded the events and posted videos of the alleged attackers to his Twitter page.

“On Wednesday (Feb.15)… I set up the booth that day, dressed as Winnie and went into the university with the poster of free A4 [white paper] protester, and stood in front of the booth of the Chinese Students’ Association to protest,” Chang explained.

“Ten minutes later, I was asked to leave by the school staff. If I wanted to stay, I could not have anything in my hands. After that, I went to the activity venue of the Chinese Students Association in Victoria park outside the school and stood for another hour to protest.

A peaceful protest by Aaron Chang at the University of Sydney was smashed by pro-Beijing youths for several days (Supplied).

“There were three vandals on Wednesday. The second one happened while I was chasing the first person… The third one happened when we went to report the crime.”

However, what shocked the student activist the most was that the school security guard, who witnessed the whole incident, did nothing and wanted him to let the people who had destroyed his property go.

“The school security wouldn’t let me chase him, saying I had no right,” Chang said. “They were very partial to that student. I repeated multiple times that [what I’m doing was] ‘anti-CCP,’ yet he still wrote in the management reports to the school that I was ‘against China,’ and then the school told me not to chase him and let him go.”

“On Thursday (Feb. 16), [my posters] were ripped off by this group of people… The group tore it off first, and I stopped them with a citizen arrest. They shoved me a couple of times.”

“On Friday (Feb. 17) morning, I found out that I had been exposed by an online celebrity in China who has 4 million followers. He said those thugs could find protection from the embassy. I was shocked and worried [me being] exposed.”

“And then I found out on Friday that guy was trolling me. He publicized my photos and mocked me on Twitter, threatening to find me again on [next] Monday. I was also threatened by others on Twitter.”

“I seriously doubt this was an organized attack. [They] repeatedly attempted to provoke me,” Chang ended the conversation with a concerning speculation.

“They kicked me a few times and even tried to kick me off the bus as they ran away.”

Chang has garnered support from Chinese Australian internet celebrities like Sydney Daddy, who has called on the Minister for Home Affairs and Cyber Security, Clare O'Neil, and the Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Countering Foreign Influence to demonstrate leadership on the situation.

“ A Chinese student in @Sydney_Uni Australia made a blatant threat against a peaceful anti-Chinese government protester before sabotaging his property,"  Sydney Daddy said.

“An example is being set here. Whom will it be set with? The perpetrator or the victim? @ClareONeilMP @JasonClareMP @SenPaterson.”

Aaron Changs stall at the University of Sydney during the Orientation week (Supplied).

University of Sydney’s Response

The University of Sydney said that the safety of all students is always their first priority, and they don’t tolerate any type of bullying behaviour or harassment on campus.

“Our protective services team has been supporting the organiser of this protest, including during the incident itself. Additional well-being support has also been offered and is available for any of our students who may need it,” a spokesperson of the university told The Epoch Times in an email.

“We’re continuing to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of our whole community and are undertaking a preliminary assessment in line with our codes of conduct to determine if further follow-up action is required. We’re also communicating with our student body on the need for protest to remain peaceful.”

The spokesperson said that the university is deeply committed to academic freedom and free speech.

“Our students come from a range of diverse backgrounds, and we strongly support the right of all our students to express opinions and political views in a safe and legal way. There’s also a long history of using the campus for political debate and protest–including putting up and removing posters on political issues.”

“We don’t condone the removal of posters from these areas, but do also respect the right of students to express their views in this manner.”

Chang found the statement’s part about posters confusing.

“How can they not condone the removal of posters while respecting the right of students to express their views at the same time?” he asked in a Twitter post.

University’s Position on Freedom of Speech Unclear

Zhou Fengsuo, a human rights activist and the founder of Humanitarian China who currently lives in the United States, criticized the University of Sydney for its neutral statement.

“You cannot exercise your freedom on the basis of infringing upon others. They are undermining other people’s freedom of speech, which of course, is a no-no,” he told Voice of America in an interview in mandarin.

“We asked the university to clarify its position.”

However, Zhou said that the university’s reply is not a big surprise for him.

“Western universities now treat Chinese students as cash cows, who are customers paying [them],” he said.

The University of Sydney boasts the highest number of Chinese students in Australia. In 2021, 87 percent of the university’s international student income come from Chinese students.

Drew Pavlou, a Brisbane-based human rights activist who himself experienced pro-CCP Chinese students’ attack at the University of Queensland over pro-democracy Hong Kong protests in 2019, voiced his support for Chang in a post on Twitter that he said showed the faces of the alleged attackers.

Drew Pavlou, a human rights activist and student at the University of Queensland. Courtesy of Drew Pavlou

“We can’t claim to be an open and free democracy in Australia if we are not doing everything in our power to protect Chinese Australian dissidents like Aaron Chang,” he said.

“If the University of Sydney, if the Australian police fail to protect this dissident from Chinese Communist Party-supported thugs, who want to use violence to terrorize and repress free speech in Australia, then we can’t say that we are a formal and open democracy.”

Police Investigating, Suspects at Large

The police confirmed that they are investigating the incidents.

“Officers from Inner West Police Area Command are investigating two reported assaults of a man outside a University on Eastern Avenue, Camperdown,” NSW Police told The Epoch Times.

“Police were told about 2 pm on Thursday, 16 February & Monday, 20 February 2023; a 22-year-old man was approached and assaulted by a group of men unknown to him.

“The man did not sustain any injuries.

“Inquiries into both incidents are continuing.”

The Epoch Times reached out to the Chinese consulate in Sydney to inquire if the Chinese people who attacked Aaron are related to the consulate but did not receive a reply by publication time.