In the global era, transnational flows of highly skilled individuals are increasing. In the much-touted global knowledge economy, the contribution of such diasporic individuals and the knowledge networks that they sustain are recognized as being of increasing importance. Brain circulation is of critical importance to the "giant periphery" of China, which is increasingly seeing its knowledge diaspora as an important resource that is keen to deploy, in the interests of the development of the motherland. But the benefits can be mutual, as highly skilled Chinese help build knowledge bridges between China and their country of residence. At the same time, not all such efforts meet with success. The article examines the phenomenon of Chinese academics at Australian universities, as part of a larger project on the Chinese knowledge diaspora.