Australian national interest better served by the removal of
Peter Varghese as UQ Chancellor
University of Queensland Chancellor Peter Vargehese, a former head of the Office Of National Assessments, has come out swinging against Liberal Senator James Paterson, who outlined how UQ had compromised itself vis-a-vis the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Government. The threatened expulsion of UQ student Drew Pavlou seems to have been the cause.
In defending UQ and its work with the CCCP Varghese relied on his record in diplomacy and intelligence. That record however, reveals an intelligence practitioner who has been at best naive, at worse incompetent.
Varghese was once Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, and yet, despite that country's work with jihadis declared in 2008 that “the growth of Islamic extremism-based movements (in this region) is constrained, thanks in part to ongoing successes in combined counter-terrorism efforts, but more because of societal factors in south-east Asia that reject the Middle Eastern jihadist model."
There is a long and ongoing history of jihadism in this region going back to at least the 1960s which would explain why Vargehese's conclusions are at best naive but suffice to point to the support for ISIS in this region that was evident by 2010.
Then, Varghese decided that Iran's nuclear program was motivated by deterrence and fear of Israel. He seemed to be unaware that even Muslims fear the Shia Iranian obsession with the return of the Imam Mahdi,which can only happen at "end times" howsoever that event might be ignited.
Given that record it is hard to see why Australians should have any confidence in Varghese's views on China, summarized (as reported) in his own words:
"Australia has to come to grips with China's emergence as a the leading economy and a research powerhouse. Our political systems and values are very different. But boycotting China is not a sensible option.
Missing from the great spy's assessment is why China has such an extensive intelligence program that is intended to
steal research and intellectual property from Australian and other Western universities. Absent also is any consideration of the fact that China continues to aggressively acquire Australian mining and agricultural assets.
Against Varghese's incompetence as an intelligence head we have UQ student Drew Pavlou, who saw the China threat and acted against it the best he could. For his act of student activism Varghese is attempting to expel Pavlou.
Australians need to stand behind Pavlou, and seek instead Varghese's removal. Any Australian university chancellor who seeks the expulsion of a student activist has no place in the Australian tertiary system. One who then tries to justify his actions by reference to his past, despite its failings, is not someone who might be considered suitable for any kind of academic position.
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TO BE READ WITH
I Criticized My University’s Ties to the Chinese Government. Now I Face Expulsion
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