Two groups of students with opposing views on Chinese politics in Hong Kong clashed inside the campus of the University of Queensland on Wednesday.
Police were reportedly called to the campus after a violent clash between the two groups broke out at around 1 p.m., reports News.com.au.
Before the incident, a group of some 50 pro-Hong Kong demonstrators were staging a sit-in protest outside one of the main coffee shops on campus. Witnesses say that the peaceful protesters held signs denouncing mainland China’s increasing dominance in Hong Kong and alleged human rights abuse.
About an hour in, pro-China activists crashed the demonstration, playing nationalist songs and chanted “China is great.”
昆士兰大学开学日，小粉红与香港学生发生冲突，现场支持暴力镇压的中国留学生唱起红歌，场面异常恐怖。https://t.co/H7PiNWvPKw pic.twitter.com/DUpA36S7Q6
— lebao wu🇦🇺 (@MerlotN) July 24, 2019
“A few Chinese students ran over and grabbed signs and ripped them up and things went from there. There was a lot of pushing and shoving.” student Nilsson Jones was quoted as saying.
“I saw some of the anti-CCP (Chinese Community Party) organisers being punched and shoved onto the ground. I saw someone smash a drink against someone’s head and a security guard was bitten by one of the (pro-Beijing) protesters.”
Footage of the incident, uploaded by Jones on Twitter, shows the violence breaking out.
Tensions escalated halfway through the protests #uqprotest #china #hongkong #uq pic.twitter.com/RWKmhwyCsT
— Nilsson Jones (@nilssonjones_) July 24, 2019
The two groups were separated at about 2 p.m. when the local authorities arrived. Jones said the pro-Hong Kong protesters left the area and continued with their peaceful protest at a nearby grassy area.
#uqprotest #Brisbane #FreeHongKong @xiteller pic.twitter.com/NuKkIj83np
— Robin 2 (@Robin42908400) July 25, 2019
The pro-China students, who were reportedly around 300 people, returned an hour later to surround the protesters with a speaker and megaphone.
Chinese students have regrouped. Heavy police and media presence now #uqprotest pic.twitter.com/aoMA8GWBNI
— Nilsson Jones (@nilssonjones_) July 24, 2019
“They were chanting demanding an apology or they wouldn’t leave,” Jones said. “They were chanting ‘UQ apologize’.”
The standoff ended at about 4 p.m. when police returned and convinced both parties to vacate. No arrests have been made.
The University of Queensland later released a statement that reiterated its role to facilitate “open, respectful and lawful free speech, including a debate about ideas we may not all support or agree with”.
The statement, however, further noted that the university expected its students and staff express their views “in a lawful and respectful manner.”
“Earlier today, in response to safety concerns resulting from a student-initiated protest on campus, the University requested police support,” said a spokesperson for the university.
“On the advice of police, protesters were requested to move on. The safety of all students is paramount to the University.”
Featured image via Twitter / nilssonjones_
