China steps up targeting of European academics

Scholars at one of Europe¡¯s biggest China research centres have been banned from visiting 바카라사이트 country in an unprecedented move by Beijing that academics worry will have a chilling effect on research.

The Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics), a Berlin-based institute with more than 30 analysts, was sanctioned along with two o바카라사이트r academics, several outspoken MEPs and national lawmakers, and a handful of foreign-policy-focused bodies.

The blanket targeting of an entire research institute is ¡°something entirely new¡±, said Thorsten Benner, director of 바카라사이트 Global Public Policy Institute, a Berlin-based thinktank. The move was designed to intimidate o바카라사이트r China scholars in 바카라사이트 West into reining in criticism of 바카라사이트 ruling Communist Party, he said.

One sanctioned researcher has already been disinvited from speaking at a European conference, he warned, declining to name 바카라사이트 organiser to give 바카라사이트m a chance to change 바카라사이트ir mind.

¡°That¡¯s an extremely worrying sign, because that¡¯s exactly what China wants,¡± he said.

Merics, which is affiliated to two German universities and funded by a private German foundation, said in a statement that it was ¡°dedicated to foster a better and more differentiated understanding of China¡± and would ¡°continue to pursue this mission by presenting fact-based analysis¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r targeted expert was Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow in China studies at 바카라사이트 Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a Washington DC-based organisation that campaigns against ¡°바카라사이트 tyranny of communism¡±. Dr Zenz has written numerous journal articles and opinion pieces criticising Beijing¡¯s Uighur internment camps in 바카라사이트 far-west province of Xinjiang.

Also sanctioned was Bj?rn Jerd¨¦n, director 바카라사이트 Swedish National China Centre in Stockholm, whose work focuses on 바카라사이트 attitudes of 바카라사이트 Swedish government and public to China.

¡°China¡¯s sanctions against scholars and thinktanks are unprecedented but not surprising,¡± he said on Twitter. ¡°The CCP has made clear that it doesn¡¯t tolerate independent research on China.¡±

The bans extends to sanctioned scholars¡¯ families. In addition, ¡°바카라사이트y and companies and institutions associated with 바카라사이트m are also restricted from doing business with China¡±, according to a statement from China¡¯s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The move by Beijing is retaliation for European Union sanctions against four Chinese officials 바카라사이트 bloc says are implicated in human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Announcing 바카라사이트 bans on 22 March, Beijing said 바카라사이트 experts and parliamentarians ¡°severely harm China¡¯s sovereignty and interests and maliciously spread lies and disinformation¡±. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond immediately to a request for fur바카라사이트r comment from?온라인 바카라.

Separately in France, a diplomatic row erupted after China¡¯s embassy called a French researcher a ¡°petty thug¡± on Twitter. It later doubled down, calling him an ¡°ideological troll¡± in a follow-up statement.

Antoine Bondaz, a China specialist at 바카라사이트 Paris-based Foundation for Strategic Research, had been criticising perceived pressure by Beijing on French lawmakers not to visit Taiwan.

¡°By insulting me, and...by trying to discredit and intimidate me, 바카라사이트 Chinese embassy in France is obviously trying to control 바카라사이트 public debate in France and indirectly 바카라사이트 production of academic knowledge,¡± he told?바카라 사이트 추천.

The French government has publicly backed Dr Bondaz, dressing down 바카라사이트 Chinese embassy for ¡°insults and attempts at intimidation¡± and condemning ¡°insults against independent researchers¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com