A new report states that Chinese students in UK universities are pressurizing their classmates to spy on their classmates in an attempt to suppress the discussion of those issues that are sensitive to the Chinese government, describing a new report.
The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank says that in his survey of Chinese education, Chinese government officials also warned the lecturers to avoid discussing some topics in their classrooms.
It comes a few days after a new law arrives, which gives more responsibility to maintain educational freedom and free speech at universities.
The Chinese Embassy in London called the report “baseless and absurd”, saying that China respects the freedom of speaking in Britain and other places.
Regulators, The Office for Students (OFS), say that the freedom of speech and educational freedom are “fundamental” for higher education.
The new law, which came into force last week, says that universities should do more to actively promote educational freedom and freedom of speech, in which in cases where there are compromises with other countries of institutions.
Universities Millions of people can be fined If they fail to do so, OFS has said.
However, the UKCT report states that some universities are reluctant to address the issue of Chinese intervention due to their financial dependence on Chinese students fees.
The report stated that some Chinese academics involved in sensitive research were denied visas by the Chinese government, while others said family members in China were disturbed or threatened by their work in Britain.
Those sensitive subjects can range from science and technology to politics and humanities, such as reports, like Alleged ethnic cleaning in China’s Xinjiang regionCovid’s outbreak or rise of Chinese technology companies.
Some academics also reported to be intimidated by scholars or other Chinese officials by employees of Confucius Institutes.
These are partner organizations working in many UK universities, bringing institutions together in the UK and China, as well as a Chinese government agency that provides funding.
They promote Chinese culture and language in Britain’s complexes, but have been criticized by the alleged relations of the Chinese Communist Party.
O OS CEO Susan Lapworth had earlier said that he hoped that Confucius institutions will be seen under new free speech laws, on concerns that they can present a threat to free speech in campuses.
The Os already have powers to ensure that the free speech is retained by universities, including any threat from the influence of foreign states or institutions.
Those powers are being strengthened with a new complaint system, in which university employees and visiting speakers will be able to raise issues directly with O.S.
The regulator also stated that universities should amend or abolish any agreement, which threatened a free speech in the campus, including scholarships or schemes funded by foreign countries.
The BBC understands that OFS expects universities to be “a reasonable level of curiosity” about any such system, regardless of any possible loss of income for the university.
A Chinese Embassy spokesman said that the country had always followed its policy of not interfering in internal affairs of other countries.
However, UKCT says its survey reactions by academics suggested that some students from China had told their lecturers that they were asked by Chinese authorities to spy on their peers.
Other students of various nationalities reported to be uncomfortable discussing issues in the category, considered sensitive to the Chinese government, and were reluctant to carry forward further educational interest in these subjects, stated in the report.
Skill Minister Jackie Smith said that no attempt would be “tolerated” by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in Britain.
“We are working directly with the office for students to support universities in the protection of free speech and deal with any kind of harassment in the campus,” he said.
He said that educational freedom was “non-pervantic in our world-agronic institutions”, saying that the implementation of the new law made “clearly clear”.
Earlier this year recorded a fine of £ 585,000 by O.S.S. He said that universities have been kept on notice that they should do their share to protect these freedom, they said, or they would “face the results”.
Additional Reporting by Education Editor Branwen Jefferies
