Chinese Envoy's Campus Visits Spark Debate on Academic Freedom

Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK, recently conducted a series of visits to prominent British universities, including Cambridge, Oxford, and Nottingham. These engagements have ignited discussions about foreign influence in academic institutions and the delicate balance between international cooperation and national interests.

During his visit to Cambridge University on September 12, 2024, Zheng met with approximately 20 Chinese students. According to reports, he encouraged them to "take patriotism as the foundation" of their studies and to "serve the motherland" upon completing their education. This message echoes similar sentiments expressed during his previous visits to other UK universities.

The University of Cambridge, founded in 1209 and boasting 121 Nobel laureates as of 2024, currently hosts around 2,000 Chinese students, representing the largest international cohort at the institution. This significant presence reflects the broader trend of Chinese students in UK higher education, with over 150,000 enrolled nationwide until recently.

These visits have raised concerns among some officials and academics about potential Chinese influence in British universities. The UK Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee reported in 2023 that Beijing had actively sought to "monitor and control Chinese students' behaviour" at British universities through a network of student groups, partly funded by the Chinese embassy.

"How do you make sure that there aren't reports going back to the Chinese government and the Chinese authorities about the way another Chinese student or a Hong Kong student is behaving? I mean, we shouldn't pretend to ourselves that those things don't happen."

Financial ties between UK universities and Chinese entities have also come under scrutiny. A report by the Civitas think tank in November 2023 revealed that UK higher education institutions received up to £156 million in funding from Chinese sources between 2017 and 2023, with Cambridge University reportedly receiving between £18 million and £44 million from 24 separate Chinese entities.

The UK government's stance on China has been evolving. While Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has not explicitly labeled China as a "threat," he has initiated a major defence review and an audit of UK-China relations. This approach reflects the complex nature of the relationship between the two countries, which has cooled since the declaration of a "Golden Era" in 2015.

Universities have defended their practices, with a Cambridge University spokesperson stating that welcoming overseas ambassadors is a regular occurrence and emphasizing that the institution is not dependent on China for funding. The Chinese embassy, for its part, maintains that educational exchanges are mutually beneficial and that concerns over security are unfounded.

As the debate continues, it highlights the challenges faced by UK universities in navigating international collaborations while safeguarding academic freedom and national interests. The situation underscores the need for transparent policies and open dialogue to address these complex issues in higher education.