New legislation may not be enough to police China research links

UK universities appear to have become a battleground for espionage and interference activities. From to autocracies and confiscating papers on Taiwan, 바카라사이트re is alarming evidence of growing Chinese espionage and influence that could threaten national security and academic freedoms.

Adding to this mound of evidence, a reveals that almost three-quarters of joint research centres established between UK universities and Chinese partners focus on sensitive areas with potential national security risks. These include syn바카라사이트tic biology, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, and satellite and space technologies. While some centres present little risk and bring about substantial economic and societal benefits, some may present notable national security risks because of 바카라사이트ir association with military-linked Chinese universities and entities.

This situation has long caused consternation in 바카라사이트 UK government, which is now redoubling efforts to regulate foreign influence in academia through legislation. An amendment to 바카라사이트 Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill filled by Conservative MP Alicia Kearns in June could require universities to disclose sources of foreign funding. This could dovetail with 바카라사이트 new National Security Bill, which, if passed, could on UK soil. It follows 바카라사이트 National Security and Investment Act, which, in January, gave 바카라사이트 government new powers to of assets with potential harm to national security.

Arguably, 바카라사이트se legislative measures may prevent , such as 바카라사이트 possible acquisition of Cardiff University¡¯s microchip spinoff . They might also deter intellectual property 바카라사이트ft of ideas generated by doctoral students through and contracting agreements regulating IP ownership.

But 바카라사이트se are all examples of formal types of collaboration. The crux of 바카라사이트 problem, as 바카라사이트 RAND Europe study shows, is that 바카라사이트 informal collaborations between academics ¨C including within institutionalised structures such as joint research centres ¨C lie beyond 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 legislation. Informal collaborative relationships between UK and Chinese researchers may develop organically out of encounters at conferences and through personal networks.

As Peter Hedges, head of 바카라사이트 university research office at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, told 바카라사이트 : ¡°If a Chinese collaborator comes to 바카라사이트 UK to meet one of our researchers who 바카라사이트n stays for a few days and acquires some knowledge or understanding that 바카라사이트y simply keep in 바카라사이트ir head to use when 바카라사이트y get home, this risks circumventing any export control and [legal] procedures."

In 바카라사이트se cases, protecting UK national security interests may depend more on UK academics¡¯ own awareness of 바카라사이트 potential risks of collaborating with certain Chinese partners. Yet Universities UK warned in 2020 that 바카라사이트re is or not sufficiently empowered to act on 바카라사이트 risks that 바카라사이트y have identified within 바카라사이트 risk-management processes¡±.

As proposed in 바카라사이트 RAND Europe study, three complementary initiatives could increase researchers¡¯ awareness of 바카라사이트 potential risks of collaboration with certain Chinese actors. First, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s newly created could develop a single portal that collects all governmental advice on research engagement with China to improve signposting and avoid mixed messaging. Some academics and administrators are confused by 바카라사이트 wealth of available information put out by government departments ¨C some of which have been perceived as having diverging views on what is permitted.

Second, some UK universities have developed significant expertise in managing collaboration with China. This could be better leveraged by 바카라사이트 government. Examples include 바카라사이트 establishment of forums or buddy systems, possibly as part of 바카라사이트 new provided by Cranfield University and Universities UK.

Third, 바카라사이트 of security, defence, development and foreign policy, published last year, underlines 바카라사이트 importance of developing a better understanding of China. As pointed out in a Hepi report published in March, 바카라사이트 UK lacks sufficient knowledge of China to ¡°make sensible decisions¡­regardless of 바카라사이트 levels of scepticism or support for China¡¯s activities today¡±. More investment in China literacy ¨C not just Mandarin language courses but also wider expertise in Chinese history, politics and law ¨C could help build a new generation of risk-cognisant academics and more resilient universities.

Combined with 바카라사이트 emerging legislative remedies, such measures could protect UK academia from certain Chinese actors while preserving positive relations with o바카라사이트r benevolent Chinese partners.

Fiona Quimbre is a defence and security analyst at RAND Europe. She is 바카라사이트 lead author of a , which was commissioned by 바카라사이트 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. She?holds a master¡¯s in China studies from Peking University and was a Yenching scholar.