cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/39861120
Chinese students at UK universities are being pressured to spy on their classmates in an attempt to suppress the discussion of issues that are sensitive to the Chinese government, a new report suggests.
The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank says its survey of academics in China studies also highlighted reports of Chinese government officials warning lecturers to avoid discussing certain topics in their classes.
It comes days after a new law came into force placing more responsibility on universities to uphold academic freedom and free speech.
The Chinese embassy in London called the report “groundless and absurd”, adding that China respects freedom of speech in the UK and elsewhere.
The regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), says freedom of speech and academic freedom are “fundamental” to higher education.
The new legislation, which came into force last week, says universities should do more to actively promote academic freedom and freedom of speech, including in cases where institutions have agreements in place with other countries.
Universities could be fined millions if they fail to do so, the OfS has said.
However, the UKCT report says some universities are reluctant to address the issue of Chinese interference because of their financial reliance on Chinese student fees.
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@dubyakay@lemmy.ca
The threat of a “dystopian capitalism, rise of fascism and democratic backsliding” you are talking about is real in the West, but in China it isn’t a threat anymore but sad reality already. The Chinese government is far ahead in that respect, and the linked report represents one more proof of that.
We have a lot of problems to defend and improve our Western democracies, but all those who say that China offers an alternative and better system have no idea what they are talking about.