Chinese Students at UK Universities Reported to Spy on Peers, Think Tank Finds
A UK think tank warns Chinese students are pressured to monitor classmates and lecturers face restrictions, raising academic freedom concerns under new UK laws.
Chinese students at UK universities are being urged by Chinese officials to monitor their peers to curb discussions deemed sensitive by Beijing, a report by the UK-China Transparency think tank says.
The survey of China studies scholars also indicates that lecturers face warnings against covering topics such as the Xinjiang situation, the origins of Covid-19 and the expansion of Chinese tech firms.
New Legal Framework for Free Speech
Last week, legislation enhancing academic freedom and free speech on campuses took effect. The Office for Students (OfS) now mandates universities to safeguard these rights, with potential fines in the millions for non-compliance.
Despite this, some institutions hesitate to confront Chinese interference due to reliance on fees from Chinese students.
Visa Denials and Intimidation
The report describes cases where Chinese researchers were denied UK visas and their families in China were threatened. Confucius Institutes operating on campuses also come under scrutiny for alleged links to the Chinese Communist Party that could stifle open debate.
Government Stance
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith condemned any foreign intimidation in the UK as "unacceptable" and affirmed support for the OfS in enforcing free speech protections, noting that academic freedom is "non-negotiable".
Chinese state pressure on students and academics in the UK poses a direct challenge to campus free speech and forces universities to balance funding with autonomy.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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