CSIRO cooperation with Chinese defence contractor should raise questions

The national science agency is in a research partnership with a Chinese state-owned enterprise responsible for the same advanced military technologies Australia's intelligence community is working hard to guard against

In April 2017 a joint centre for advanced science and technology research was launched at the University of Technology, Sydney. The partner and funder is the China Electronics Group Corporation (CETC), one of China's largest state owned-enterprises.

Beijing's influence in Australia has long caused unease and prompted difficult questions. Our relations with China are vital to our economy and future prosperity. But as Beijing's overt and covert influence continues to increase, tougher decisions will need to be made about how to navigate the relationship, particularly when it comes to engaging with political actors such as China's government-controlled companies.