Chinese Academic Repression Distorts the UK’s China Studies, Survey Finds

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is distorting the UK’s China studies system with widespread influence, interference, and harassment, a survey found.

The CCP’s actions include denying scholars’ visa applications, harassing their family members in China, surveillance and intimidation in the UK, and leveraging universities’ dependency on tuition payments from Chinese students, according to survey respondents.

In some cases, university administrators and management are said to be reinforcing the CCP’s distortion of China studies in the UK under real or perceived pressure from the CCP. And scholars reported self-censorship to maintain access to China, avoid conflicts in class, keep funding for their research, protect themselves, or protect family members or colleagues in China.

The distortion “is likely to have a downstream effect on the knowledge and advice supplied to government, the press, the public, think-tanks, and business,” UKCT warned.

Of more than 1,000 China studies scholars to whom UKCT has reached out, 50 responded to its 19 survey questions, submitting more than 17,000 words of text. Despite UKCT’s assurance of confidentiality, only 14 revealed their identities to the charity. Some respondents mentioned or implied hesitancy to complete the survey because of security concerns.

The small sample size and the respondents’ hesitation to identify themselves are the study’s major limitations, which is “concerning in itself,” the report says.

Two scholars said they have been denied a visa to visit China, while 23 said they knew someone who had. A majority of respondents (29) said they believe it would be more difficult for a scholar to get a Chinese visa if they researched, taught, or spoke of issues deemed highly sensitive by the CCP.

Citing an answer that says total disengagement with China would undermine the quality of research on China, UKCT acknowledged the argument as “an important truth.”

“However, by blocking access to China to scholars viewed as hostile, the CCP seeks to undermine their credentials, disincentivise criticism by others, and thereby shape the discourse about China and its regime,” it added.

Almost two-thirds of respondents (32) said they believe dependence on revenue from Chinese students has made universities aware of the importance of maintaining a favorable relationship with the Chinese government, although only a minority (19) believe the situation has translated into influence on academic freedom in relation to sensitive subjects.

In one example, UKCT said, a scholar was pressured to remove teaching elements that could offend nationalist Chinese students, and was asked by funders—who had been threatened by the Chinese regime—whether their planned research would offend the regime.

Another respondent reported being “effectively threatened by administrators” who referenced the university’s financial dependence on international student fees. A third respondent said a colleague was quasi-demoted after complaining about Chinese police harassment of the family of another colleague who had given a sensitive lecture.

The answers are “strong evidence that universities’ financial dependencies are a vector for CCP influence and that this is affecting China studies in the UK, although not all institutions are affected and there is diversity of experience across the field,” the report says, adding that some institutions welcome the study of sensitive topics.

The presence of Chinese students and staff in Chinese studies is another influencing factor, with some Chinese nationals intimidating fellow Chinese nationals. According to one respondent, non-Chinese students in their class were disturbed by this atmosphere.

One scholar said his Chinese students told him that Chinese police had asked them to spy on campus events, while another said their Chinese students spoke of omnipresent surveillance and being interviewed by officials when they return to China.

Other scholars reported how Chinese students were more open about discussing sensitive topics in more private settings and became muted in the presence of unknown fellow Chinese nationals.

UKCT said the data “further substantiate the longstanding claim” that Chinese students “are subject to systematic surveillance and transnational repression in the UK,” and “their academic freedom is severely limited as a result.”

Besides students of Chinese nationality, the situation is also impacting other students, “and the UK’s next generation of China experts,” it added.

The report also said that staff of Chinese nationality fear for the safety of themselves and their family members, and that several scholars said they self-censor to protect their Chinese colleagues.

UKCT cited one example in which a visiting scholar from China whispered, “We’re watching you” into the ear of scholar Y. The report also said that Y’s roommate, a Chinese national, entered Y’s room without permission when Y was absent.

“This survey presents strong evidence that CCP-linked repression has had and may continue to have a distortive effect on our China studies system, disincentivising sensitive yet critical research,” UKCT warned, calling on academics to fill gaps in regulations and laws protecting free speech.

On Aug. 1, new rules came into effect requiring universities in England to protect freedom of speech, including rules that UKCT says “effectively recommend the closure of Confucius Institutes and the termination of China Scholarship Council scheme arrangements.”

In guidance published June 19, the regulator Office for Students (OfS) recommended that universities take action, including the ending of visiting scholarship arrangements with foreign colleagues if recipients must accept directions from the country’s diplomats and abide by rules of the country’s government.

The OfS also recommended similar actions when a foreign collaborator imposes an ideological test in the employment process.