At least four leading Australian universities have allegedly collaborated with Chinese defense groups on research that includes technology linked to anti-ship missiles, according to a report by the U.S.-based China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI).
The CASI report examined hundreds of interactions between Western institutions and Beijing entities between 2015 and 2025, encompassing research collaborations and conference attendance.
The University of Sydney was identified as having the fourth-highest number of interactions with People's Republic of China (PRC) defense laboratories during this period. These engagements reportedly included joint research in areas such as aerodynamics, antennas, microwave technology, and communications anti-jamming systems.
The report also noted a PRC military researcher at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in 2015 allegedly involved in missile development. According to the report, this researcher worked on "controllability of complex networks" and "route planning algorithms for anti-ship missiles."
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) allegedly maintained a cooperative relationship with a PRC defense laboratory on antennas and microwave technology, while Swinburne University of Technology reportedly conducted joint aerodynamics research with a PRC defense laboratory.
Universities whose staff attended conferences or events involving PRC defense laboratories also included UTS, Australian National University, RMIT University, La Trobe University, Swinburne, and the Universities of Wollongong, Melbourne, Sydney, and New South Wales.
Michael Shoebridge, director of Strategic Analysis Australia, stated that while China invests heavily in research, collaboration on defense-related work poses a significant risk if Australia were to become a target. He described such collaboration as "willfully blind" and "not in Australia's interest," particularly when research is directly applicable to military capabilities, citing the UWA example as an "outrageous lapse of judgment."
Shoebridge referenced a 2018 Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) report indicating that China's military had sent thousands of scientists and engineers to foreign universities. He expressed alarm that similar issues persist, noting that top Australian universities had deep partnerships with Chinese institutions that support the PRC military and intelligence agencies.
These revelations coincide with expert warnings about growing threats. A June report by the Lowy Institute cited China's expanding military fleet and outlined potential attack scenarios against Australia. In July, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticized Beijing's behavior following an incident involving the China Coast Guard and the Philippine armed forces. Earlier that month, the PLA Navy conducted a ballistic missile test with a simulated warhead, reportedly capable of reaching as far as Brisbane.
The CASI report lists over 700 interactions between Western research institutions and Beijing-linked entities, with Australia accounting for a substantial number. The United States had the highest number of recorded interactions (204 out of 713). Several other Western countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, the Netherlands, and Sweden, also showed high rates of contact.
CASI, which is the U.S. Department of the Air Force's premier center for studying China's aerospace capabilities, described such interactions as "at the very least problematic, and at most an urgent security concern." The report suggested that even seemingly less problematic cases could provide opportunities for valuable technology and knowledge transfer to entities aiming to develop new technologies for the PRC military.
In response, a UWA spokesperson stated that the report does not allege misconduct or identify specific military applications arising from the cited research, which they noted was more than a decade old. The spokesperson affirmed UWA's commitment to conducting research responsibly and in accordance with Australian laws and national security requirements.
The University of Sydney indicated it would review the report, stating that its researchers comply with all applicable laws, government guidance, and ethical standards. Spokespeople for UNSW, the University of Melbourne, and Swinburne also affirmed their commitment to government guidance and legal requirements. A Swinburne spokesperson noted that a former staff member had ceased employment before attending a conference in China and had no ongoing relationship with the university, adding that the research collaboration in question occurred during a period when the Australian government actively encouraged such partnerships.