China blasts Australia over new college guidelines

(14 Nov 2019) China's foreign ministry on Thursday criticized Australia over new guidelines aimed at curbing Chinese influence in its universities, calling fears of such influence "pure nonsense." "We hope the relevant party can view the exchanges between the two sides in an objective and reasonable manner, not politicize normal exchanges and do something that are conducive to China-Australia friendship and mutual trust," said Geng Shuang, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, speaking from Beijing. Australia's education minister had said earlier Thursday that Australian universities would work with national security agencies and disclose foreign research partners under new voluntary guidelines, following a flurry of cyberattacks and amid fear that China was influencing the country's colleges. Geng also said that China continues to promote dialogue to resolve tensions on the Korean peninsula, as North Korea lashed out at planned US-South Korean military drills and warned that Washington would face threats and suffering if it ignored leader Kim Jong Un's end-of-year deadline to salvage nuclear talks. A statement carried by North Korean state media was the latest expression of displeasure over the military drills and slow pace of nuclear negotiations with Washington. The talks have stalled over disagreements on disarmament steps and the removal of sanctions imposed on the North. North Korea has also ramped up its missile tests in recent months and experts say it is likely to continue weapons displays to pressure Washington as Kim's deadline nears for the Trump administration to offer mutually acceptable terms for a deal. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...