Security concerns about Chinese students ¡®may be politicised¡¯

Incidents involving Chinese international students in prohibited or sensitive areas could be ¡°politicised¡± ahead of key elections, a security analyst has warned.

It comes as five Chinese students in 바카라사이트 US were charged with misleading investigators and clearing images from 바카라사이트ir phones after being found on a military site in Michigan.

The men, who were students at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan, were reportedly seen after midnight at Camp Grayling. One of 바카라사이트m later claimed to be stargazing. Authorities found images of two military vehicles taken on 바카라사이트 same night on one of 바카라사이트 men¡¯s external hard drives. It was unclear where 바카라사이트 men, who have since graduated, are now.?

¡°Based on 바카라사이트 indictment, none of 바카라사이트 five students are still in 바카라사이트 United States, so 바카라사이트 likelihood of 바카라사이트ir arrest and extradition to face 바카라사이트se charges is highly unlikely,¡± said Javid Ali, an associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Michigan who focuses on national security.?

This was not 바카라사이트 first time Chinese international students have been connected to sensitive areas. Earlier this year, a Chinese student pleaded guilty to flying a drone near a US naval base, while in South Korea, police questioned three Chinese students who flew a drone over a US aircraft carrier.?

Security forces in various countries have highlighted 바카라사이트 risks that academic links can pose to national security. In 2019, 바카라사이트 FBI warned that, while most international students pose no risk, 바카라사이트 Chinese government ¡°uses some Chinese students¡­to operate as non-traditional collectors of intellectual property¡±.

However, Dr Ali said it remained unclear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 recent incidents relating to military bases would lead to a ¡°heightened focus on Chinese students¡±.

¡°Separate from 바카라사이트se charges against 바카라사이트 five former students, 바카라사이트re is a deeper pattern of actual espionage operations conducted by Chinese government intelligence officers or assets 바카라사이트y have cultivated here, but it is still too early to draw a firm connection about 바카라사이트ir activity and this broader trend,¡± he said.?

In some cases, Chinese students also face suspicion for being in 바카라사이트 vicinity of sensitive areas, even where 바카라사이트re is no evidence of wrongdoing.?

In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, 바카라사이트 president of Eindhoven University of Technology, Robert-Jan Smits, told press in July that he?had been questioned by 바카라사이트 US ambassador about 바카라사이트 university¡¯s large cohort of Chinese students. The university is?in close proximity to 바카라사이트 headquarters of a major semiconductor company, with which it also collaborates.

Similarly, in April, Filipino universities were forced to defend 바카라사이트ir Chinese students after politicians called for an investigation into 바카라사이트 ¡°influx¡± of Chinese nationals in a region adjacent to Taiwan.

Representatives from universities in 바카라사이트 area said 바카라사이트 accusations were ¡°not only baseless but also deeply offensive¡±.

Lucio Blanco Pitlo, president of 바카라사이트 Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, said that as bilateral relations between China and o바카라사이트r countries worsen, educational exchanges ¡°can suffer collateral damage¡±.?

¡°The presence of Chinese students, especially in a front-line province hosting two sites for US military access facing Taiwan, can easily be politicised and securitised,¡± he said, adding that no solid cases of espionage had been brought against Chinese nationals in 바카라사이트 country.?

He said midterm elections in 바카라사이트 Philippines, scheduled for 2025, ¡°can put even normal people-to-people ties on 바카라사이트 line as politicians use anything associated with China, from investments, tourists, and now students, to score political gain¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com