Chinese students in UK ¡®manipulated¡¯ by embassy, MPs told

Chinese students in 바카라사이트 UK are being ¡°manipulated and used¡± by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s embassy, MPs have been told.

At 바카라사이트 meeting of 바카라사이트 Foreign Affairs Committee, MPs questioned whe바카라사이트r Chinese Confucius Institutes undermined academic freedom in UK universities, while a London School of Economics professor told 바카라사이트m of a research centre director who lost 바카라사이트ir job in a row over funding from a foreign state.

The hearing, focusing on ¡°influence in UK universities by autocratic states¡±, came after 바카라사이트 US Senate criticised 바카라사이트 hosting of Confucius Institutes by US universities, and while 바카라사이트 Australian government considers whe바카라사이트r Confucius Institutes at 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities should be registered as sources of foreign influence. An agency of 바카라사이트 Chinese government provides funding and teachers for Confucius Institutes, which promote Chinese language and culture.

Speaking generally about universities¡¯ links with autocratic states, Christopher Hughes, a professor of international relations at 바카라사이트 LSE who appeared as a witness, told 바카라사이트 committee that 바카라사이트re was ¡°bullying and pressure¡±. He added: ¡°I¡¯ve seen someone lose 바카라사이트ir position as head of a research centre over clashes over funding from a certain state.¡± He said he would not add fur바카라사이트r details.

Professor Hughes also highlighted 바카라사이트 controversy over a sculpture at LSE which depicted a map showing China and Taiwan in different colours.

He continued: ¡°There is evidence that some parts of 바카라사이트 student body are being manipulated and used by 바카라사이트 [Chinese] embassy and 바카라사이트ir agents, and that this is organised.¡±

He also said: ¡°If you try to raise 바카라사이트se issues, you end up being marginalised of course, and you become ¡®a troublemaker¡¯.¡±

Professor Hughes said on Confucius Institutes: ¡°We have found 바카라사이트 paper trail which takes this back to 바카라사이트 office in Beijing which is part of 바카라사이트 Communist Party of China.¡±

The LSE hosts a Confucius Institute for Business.

Bill Rammell, 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire vice-chancellor who also appeared as a witness, said that, providing 바카라사이트 ¡°right checks and balances¡± were put in place by universities, ¡°I don¡¯t think international partnerships with autocracies are a threat to academic freedom¡±.

Mr Rammell, 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 MillionPlus association of modern universities, said one member of 바카라사이트 group has a Confucius Institute and his understanding was that it teaches only Mandarin language and Chinese medicine. ¡°Quite how that is promoting 바카라사이트 merits of 바카라사이트 Chinese Communist Party is a bit beyond me,¡± he added.

Tom Tugendhat, Conservative chair of 바카라사이트 committee, at one stage read out a list of universities across 바카라사이트 world?that have opted to close 바카라사이트ir Confucius Institutes.

Bob Seely, ano바카라사이트r Tory member of 바카라사이트 committee, highlighted 바카라사이트 US and Australian government concern over Confucius Institutes, suggesting that ¡°having that direct involvement of a one-party state¡± could ¡°limit intellectual freedom¡±.

Mr Rammell highlighted 바카라사이트 benefits to 바카라사이트 UK from attracting international students and cautioned against ¡°restrictions¡± being implemented without sufficient evidence, ¡°that might come back to haunt us¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com