In recent years, British universities have become recipients of substantial Chinese funding, a significant portion of which has been linked to the Chinese military, according to a recent report by the British think tank Civitas. The study, which surveyed 88 U.K. universities, revealed that 46 of them acknowledged receiving funding ranging from £122 million to £156 million from China since 2017. This funding encompasses research collaborations, one-off donations, and contributions from various Chinese entities. Disturbingly, 30% of this financial support has direct ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), raising serious concerns about national security and academic independence.
The Civitas report sheds light on the alarming extent of Chinese military-linked funding infiltrating British academia. Three U.K. universities, namely the University of Westminster, the University of Huddersfield, and Cranfield University, received 100% of their Chinese funding from entities connected to the Chinese military, including those sanctioned by the United States. Notably, Chinese tech giant Huawei, despite being barred by the U.K. government from participating in 5G network development since 2020, remains the largest single source of Chinese funding for British universities, providing between £20 million and £38 million.
Other military-affiliated entities contributing to U.K. universities include educational institutions controlled by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, research institutes focused on nuclear warheads, and the PLA’s primary supplier of precision-guided missiles. The report contends that this funding not only poses a risk of intellectual property theft but also undermines British national security.
While Chinese students contribute significantly to the financial well-being of British universities, with £2.2 billion in international student fees annually, the Civitas report raises concerns about the exploitation of this lucrative market. The report suggests that the China Scholarship Council, a non-profit arm of the Chinese education ministry, collaborates with British universities to tap into British taxpayers’ money for scholarships. However, these scholarships come with strings attached, as Chinese students are selected based on their commitment to “thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.” Furthermore, they undergo what the report describes as “brainwashing education” by the Communist Party of China before leaving China, emphasizing the Party’s control over the academic pursuits of Chinese students studying abroad.
The report also highlights the role of Confucius Institutes and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSA) as instruments of China’s united front strategy. These organizations, identified as Beijing’s united front units, reportedly monitor 700,000 Chinese students worldwide, exerting influence over academic discourse and stifling freedom of expression. Civitas Director of Defense Security, Robert Clark, contends that China’s united front efforts are not only compromising academic freedom but also endangering Britain’s national security by facilitating intellectual property theft within its universities.
In response to these findings, Robert Clark calls on the British government to align itself with U.S. sanctions, urging a reconsideration of the reliance on Chinese students. Clark proposes expanding the market for students from other Commonwealth countries and Hong Kong to reduce dependence on Chinese students. Moreover, it is imperative to sever ties with the China Scholarship Council, recognizing the potential risks associated with scholarships that come with ideological strings attached. The government should prioritize scholarship programs that uphold academic freedom and intellectual independence. Simultaneously, the call to end relationships with Confucius Institutes echoes the need to curtail external influences that compromise the autonomy of British universities.
There are currently 30 Confucius Institutes in the U.K., the most in the world. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said during his election campaign that he would close them, but so far he has not honored his promise.
British Member of Parliament Bob Seely said that the U.K. government may not need to impose a total ban on universities receiving Chinese funds or close down Confucius Institutes, but it should set out clear guidelines on what can and cannot be done, such as not barring discussion of the Tiananmen Square incident on campus, and not spying on or intimidating students. The Civitas report raises crucial questions about the impact of Chinese funding on British universities, shedding light on the complex web of financial ties between academic institutions and entities linked to the Chinese military. As concerns over national security and academic freedom mount, it becomes imperative for the British government to carefully reassess its relationship with China, ensuring that partnerships do not compromise the integrity of its academic institutions or compromise the nation’s security interests.