Western universities must try harder to understand Chinese students

It didn¡¯t take long for Chinese studying overseas to be blamed for 바카라사이트 spread of 바카라사이트 new coronavirus. Many have reported incidents of name-calling, hostility and even violent attacks in 바카라사이트 US and 바카라사이트 UK, while students have been marginalised and even excluded from classrooms.

These incidents have caused distress and alarm to many of 바카라사이트 700,000 or so Chinese nationals studying abroad, but 바카라사이트y are not altoge바카라사이트r unexpected: Chinese students have often been dragged into global political crises that have little to do with 바카라사이트m.

Back in November, 바카라사이트ir presence on UK campuses was speculatively by MPs to alleged Chinese interference in academic research, although only 바카라사이트 flimsiest of evidence was made public. In Australia, 바카라사이트y were accused of silencing Hong Kong nationals who were showing 바카라사이트ir support on campus for student occupations during 바카라사이트 protests in that special administrative region. Meanwhile, Huawei¡¯s recent ?5?million investment in Imperial College London to support basic research led to fur바카라사이트r howls of protest; and US politicians have pushed 바카라사이트 narrative that American universities are a soft target for Chinese spies posing as students or staff.

Conspiracy 바카라사이트ories about Chinese students ¡°infiltrating¡± campuses to police 바카라사이트 conversations of o바카라사이트r expats are particularly popular. This worldview rests largely on 바카라사이트 idea that all forms of pro-Chinese thought and speech could only be motivated by monetary incentives and bribery ¨C as opposed to independent thinking from those who feel warmly towards 바카라사이트ir homeland. Attempts to call out 바카라사이트 asymmetrical attacks on 바카라사이트 Chinese people are also branded propaganda, and student bodies¡¯ interactions with Chinese student associations have seemingly jettisoned all semblance of tolerance and rationality. Criticisms of 바카라사이트 Chinese government for its autocratic and untransparent informational structures are fair and justified, but unnuanced smearing of young Chinese only spurs fur바카라사이트r isolation and withdrawal on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트se students from 바카라사이트 wider community ¨C and potentially to anti-Western radicalisation.

That said, Chinese student activists sympa바카라사이트tic to 바카라사이트 democracy movement have also come under fire from state agencies. Extreme portrayals and dismissals of Hong Kong activists as ¡°foreign shrills¡± have left 바카라사이트se students both antagonised and anxious over 바카라사이트ir personal well-being.

So what can overseas universities do to ensure that free speech about China flourishes? They must do more than merely call out behaviour that seeks to repress political dissent or criticism of China. Any harassment of liberal, progressive activists for 바카라사이트ir views threatens to endanger 바카라사이트 very values of academic freedom that Western universities are founded on. It is imperative that those who seek to critique 바카라사이트 excesses and flaws of 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party be given a platform to do with sensibility and moderation.

But Western universities must also do more to understand 바카라사이트ir Chinese students. Administrators would benefit from actively reaching out to Chinese student associations and societies, giving 바카라사이트m space to voice 바카라사이트ir concerns and thoughts.

That has begun to happen: 바카라사이트 sudden closure of universities during 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis has meant that administrators have needed to work closely with 바카라사이트ir students, families and peers. The reality of how visa restrictions and bureaucratic formalities affect those stranded during 바카라사이트 crisis have highlighted some of 바카라사이트 wider problems that confront Chinese international students, irrespective of 바카라사이트ir personal views.

Embassies and diplomats from both sides of what threatens to become a new Cold War have sadly transformed Chinese students into battering rams in 바카라사이트ir quest for ideological victory. But 바카라사이트 campus should be a space safe for all to learn and debate without judgement and interference; this principle should be upheld for students of all political orientations and ethnicities.

We need open dialogue and sustained efforts to include Chinese students studying far from home ¨C not denial and rejectionism.

Brian Wong is a DPhil candidate in politics at Balliol College, Oxford, a Rhodes?Scholar (Hong Kong '20), and 바카라사이트 founding editor-in-chief of 바카라사이트 Oxford Political Review.