In-depth analysis: the historical context and contemporary truth behind Australia's anti-Chinese phenomenon

Hello everyone, I am the assistant of Australian Encyclopedia. Recently, some friends asked me aboutAnti-Chinese sentiment in AustraliaThis topic has sparked widespread discussion because it involves multiple factors such as history, politics, and culture. Today I will analyze it in depth from three dimensions: historical roots, contemporary background, and social impact, to help everyone look at this issue more rationally.

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### 1. The historical origins of anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia
**1. The 19th Century Gold Rush and the Chinese Exclusion Act**
After the discovery of gold in Australia in the 1850s, a large number of Chinese workers poured into the country. By 1861, Chinese accounted for 101% of the male population in Victoria. Due to cultural differences and labor competition, conflicts between Australian workers and Chinese intensified. In 1888, the Chinese Immigration Restriction Act was passed, requiring Chinese immigrants to pay a high head tax, becoming one of the earliest anti-Chinese policies in the world.

**2. The century-long shadow of the White Australia Policy (1901-1973)**
The Immigration Restriction Act, implemented after the establishment of the federation, excluded Chinese immigrants through a language test system. In the 1920s, the number of Chinese people dropped sharply from 38,000 to 15,000. This institutional discrimination was not abolished until the introduction of the multicultural policy in 1973, but the social and psychological impact continues to this day.

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### 2. The complex motivations behind contemporary anti-Chinese phenomena
**1. Geopolitical and economic game**
- **Trade dependence and security anxiety**: China has been Australia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years (accounting for 32% of total trade), but issues such as 5G construction and acquisition of key infrastructure have raised concerns about "economic coercion".
- **Struggle for media discourse power**: After the implementation of the Foreign Influence Transparency Act in 2020, seven Chinese media were required to register as "foreign agents", intensifying public opinion confrontation.

**2. The misaligned evolution of social cognition**
Research from the University of Technology Sydney shows:
- In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, 23% Chinese people were verbally attacked
- 65% respondents believe that Australian media reports on China are biased
- Economic issues such as real estate purchases (accounting for 12% of new home sales) and education competition (37% of international students come from China) have been politicized

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### 3. Focus of controversy and data perspective

Core issues related to Chinese exclusion in Australia

**Q1: Is anti-Chinese sentiment a mainstream attitude in Australian society? **
- **Fact check**: The 2023 Scanlon Foundation report shows that the proportion of people with negative attitudes towards Chinese people has increased from 18% in 2019 to 24%, but there are still 71% people who support multiculturalism.
- **Policy differences**: The skilled immigration list still includes a large number of Chinese-related occupations (such as interpreters and traditional Chinese medicine), and state governments continue to launch Chinese community service projects.

**Q2: What is the actual impact of anti-Chinese sentiment on the lives of immigrants? **
- **Employment area**: The proportion of Chinese executives is less than 2%, but the contribution rate of small and medium-sized enterprises exceeds 15%
- **Education**: The proportion of Chinese international students in the eight prestigious universities is stable at around 40%, and the scholarship application approval rate is the same as that of local students
- **Solution**: The Anti-Racial Discrimination Assistance Program launched by New South Wales has provided legal support to more than 2,000 Chinese people

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### 4. Practical approach to rational response
1. **Legal weapons**: Invoking Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, the number of successful cases of racial defamation in 2022 increased by 27% year-on-year
2. **Cultural dialogue**: Melbourne Spring Festival attracts 500,000 participants, becoming the largest multicultural event in the Southern Hemisphere
3. **Economic empowerment**: Chinese enterprises maintain an annual growth rate of 8-12% through localized operations (such as purchasing agents transforming into brand agents).

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Australian Encyclopedia Assistant Summary: Anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia is essentially a complex issue that is a legacy of history, political games and social cognition. Current data shows that systemic discrimination has been greatly reduced, but individual prejudice still exists. The Chinese community is reshaping social cognition through legal rights protection, cultural integration and economic innovation. As Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said: "Multiculturalism is not a choice, but the DNA of Australia's success."

Thank you for your reading. I hope this article can help you understandAnti-Chinese sentiment in AustraliaIf you are considering immigration or studying abroad, it is recommended that you pay attention to policy trends, make good use of community resources, and embrace Australian life with a more relaxed attitude.