Chinese students at universities in the UK are being pressured to spy on their classmates, according to a new report.
The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank said results from a survey of academics in China studies said the system was subject to ‘widespread CCP (Chinese Communist Party) influence, interference and harassment’ in order to suppress discussion of issues sensitive to the Chinese government.
The report claimed students had told their lecturers that they had been asked by Chinese officials to spy on their peers, while lecturers said they had instructed to not discuss certain topics in their classes
The Chinese embassy in London has denied the allegations, describing the report as ‘groundless and absurd’, according to the BBC.
It comes days after the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 was introduced. The law is designed to stop universities from censoring controversial or unpopular ideas.
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The law’s regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), says freedom of speech and academic freedom are ‘fundamental’ to higher education.
If UK universities fail to abide by the law they could be fined millions, said OfS.
However, according the UKCT, some universities are reluctant to tackle CCP’s interference due to universities’ reliance on the revenue Chinese students bring in tuition fees.
The report says some of those surveyed claim the Chinese government have denied UK visas to academics involved in sensitive research, while others allege family members in China have been harassed or threatened because of their relative’s work in the UK.
Among sensitive topics mentioned are politics and humanities, including the alleged ethnic cleaning in China’s Xinjiang region and science and tech, including Covid-19.
According to the report, some academics at UK universities have been intimidated by Chinese officials and scholars while on visits to the campuses.
The universities allegedly include those involved with the Confucius Institute, a partnership programme funded by the Chinese government that offers cultural and language exchanges between China and countries across the world.
The programme has previously been accused of spreading Chinese propaganda under the guise of teaching, with some universities around the world withdrawing from the initiative as a result.
OfS chief executive Susan Lapworth previously said Confucius Institutes should be looked into under the new free speech laws due to concerns they don’t meet the rules.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson told the BBC it always adhered to its policy of not interfering with other countries’ internal affairs.
The Metro has contacted the Chinese embassy for comment.
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