China’s increasingly sophisticated use of sharp power tactics and influence-and-control operations abroad poses an acute threat to Australia’s identity, sovereignty and national security. This is demonstrated by the increasing number of demonstrations at universities and the expanding prevalence of Confucius Institutes (CI) within Australia’s education sector. Federal and state governments must proactively identify and curtail China’s growing influence within the education sector, whilst developing an indigenous or alternative Mandarin language capability. In addressing this issue, Australian politicians and academics must realise that the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to academic integrity overrides arguments prioritising institutional independence; and seek collaboration with universities and independent organisations in the creation of an indigenous or alternative Chinese language program to replace CIs.