Latest news with #CCP-funded
The National
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
The Scottish universities accept millions from firms linked to China
Some universities accepted money from companies and institutions with ties to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in China, including those which are sanctioned by other countries. Other universities took funding from institutions and tech firms accused of helping the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spy on and target users, spread misinformation and abuse human rights. The director-general of MI5 last year warned vice-chancellors that China and other states the UK Government views as adversaries are attempting to steal technology from universities that can 'deliver their authoritarian, military and commercial priorities'. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China said The Ferret's research suggests that funding from CCP-linked organisations in Scottish higher education is particularly prevalent. This, it claimed 'should be a matter of deep concern for ministers and the wider Scottish public'. READ MORE: Labour blasted as 'deeply authoritarian' over plans to proscribe Palestine Action However, the Chinese Embassy in London has accused critics and media outlets of 'politicising and stigmatising normal educational exchanges between the two countries'. It has denied the use of subversive tactics abroad and argues that research collaboration with UK universities has 'enhanced mutual understanding'. The Ferret asked Scotland's universities to disclose funding they received from Chinese organisations between 2020/21 and 2024/25. Ten universities collectively received at least £39.7 million of funding. Of that, £5.5m came from organisations allegedly linked to the military, human rights abuses or spying, or was used to fund controversial Confucius Institutes. These are CCP-funded educational and cultural programmes on UK campuses which have been accused of monitoring and censoring UK students, and pushing propaganda. Dundee University refused The Ferret's request while others withheld some information which, they argued, was commercially sensitive. As such, the true total could be higher. Edinburgh University received more than £11m in research funding from unnamed Chinese organisations but it did not provide further detail. The university said it was not feasible to provide a complete list of possible funding from China. Some of Edinburgh Napier University's funding, £1.2m, came from unnamed Chinese partners for transnational education programmes. St Andrews University would only provide funding information for named organisations, rather than any from China. Military links SOME universities accepted money from Chinese organisations with military ties. Strathclyde University received £130,000 in research funding from Wuxi Paike New Materials Technology, which makes metal forgings for the Chinese military. Strathclyde did not specify when it received the money from the firm, which was sanctioned by the US government in December 2020 due to its military links. Strathclyde also accepted £22,100 for 'research studentship/knowledge exchange' from the Chinese Academy of Sciences on an undisclosed date. The academy is designated 'medium risk' by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), due to its alleged weapons research. ASPI is a defence think tank founded by the Australian Government. It has been described as having a hawkish stance on China and has received funding from overseas governments, including the US and UK, as well as the defence industry. In 2020, a drone submarine developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences was found by an Indonesian fisherman in the South China Sea and thought to be on a possible covert mission by military observers. The following year, in October 2021, Robert Gordon University (RGU) was given £46,820 by the academy to research spectral imaging – a method of capturing highly detailed images. An RGU spokesperson said the research collaboration was transferred to the university in 2021 after it appointed a professor from Strathclyde who was working on the project. The collaboration ended in 2023. In April this year, The Times reported that RGU, Aberdeen and Strathclyde universities were among 23 UK institutions to have signed an agreement with Chinese institutions with alleged military links, despite warnings from MI5. Surveillance and spying allegations SOME universities accepted money from tech firms, including those accused of helping the CCP to spy on users, and spread misinformation. Heriot-Watt University received between £150,000 and £200,000 from tech firm Huawei to research wireless communications hardware between November 2020 and November 2021. In July 2020, it was announced that Huawei will be banned from UK infrastructure by the end of 2027 over fears it could facilitate spying from China. In 2019, we reported that universities and Police Scotland refused to sever links with the tech giant despite fears their devices may be used to spy for Beijing. Huawei has previously said it had never been asked by the CCP to spy and 'would categorically refuse to comply'. In 2022/23, Edinburgh University accepted £127,973 from tech firm, Tencent, to fund a research project called 'serving big machine learning models'. Allegations of mass surveillance and human rights abuses by Tencent were reported years earlier. READ MORE: Scottish Government announces £3 million in funding for 14 festivals CCP committees within Tencent ensure that the state's 'political goals are pursued', according to a 2020 study from ASPI. A 2022 report from Human Rights Watch claimed that via its messaging app, WeChat, Tencent 'censors and surveils' users on the CCP's behalf and 'hands over user data to authorities when 'sensitive' information is discovered'. 'There have been numerous reports about people getting harassed, detained, or imprisoned for their private messages on WeChat,' it added. A 2020 study from the University of Toronto found that WeChat also monitored users outwith China. Tencent has rejected claims that the CCP uses WeChat for spying. WeChat reportedly spread Russian propaganda and misinformation surrounding Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, while suppressing posts sympathetic to Kyiv, but Tencent declined to comment on the claims. In January, the US added Tencent to a list of businesses it claims work with China's military. Tencent has denied the allegations. Monitoring, restrictions and propaganda SOME organisations funding Scotland's universities have allegedly policed overseas students and restricted their freedoms. Most of these financial contributions were used to fund Confucius Institutes at Scottish universities. Confucius Institutes teach Chinese language and culture, but have been accused of monitoring students, spreading state propaganda, censoring topics – such as the independence of Taiwan – and stifling free speech on campuses. China has rejected the allegations. In 2021, a former Chinese diplomat, who defected to Australia, told The Ferret that China tries to control international students at Scottish universities via student associations. A 2023 report from the UK Parliament's intelligence and security committee said the institutes were run by Hanban, an arm of China's education ministry ultimately controlled by the CCP's propaganda department. Its institutes must obey CCP law, monitor students overseas and influence their behaviour, the report alleged. The last UK government U-turned on a bid to ban the institutes, while top Australian universities closed their institutes in April. Since 2020, Strathclyde, Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities have accepted more than £5m, including from Hanban, to fund their Confucius Institutes. Edinburgh's institute was partly funded by Fudan University, which reportedly omitted the phrase 'freedom of thought' from its charter in 2019. Aberdeen University accepted £5000 from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) in November 2023 to fund a visiting researcher. Some European universities have paused or ceased co-operation with the CSC, citing threats to academic freedom, research security and the risk of 'industrial espionage'. Universities 'ignoring evidence of risks' LUKE de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international alliance of cross-party politicians, said The Ferret's research was 'shocking, but not surprising'. 'The fact that money is still being allowed to flow without being flagged should be a matter of deep concern for ministers and the wider Scottish public,' he claimed. 'The rest of the UK has been slow to address dependencies which are curtailing academic freedoms and assisting the People's Liberation Army, but this evidence suggests that the problem is even more acute in Scotland and needs urgently to be tackled.' Laura Harth, China in the world director at human rights group Safeguard Defenders, said: 'It remains staggering to see evidence-based institutions consistently ignore the endless amount of evidence on the security, IP theft and foreign interference risks related to co-operation with (CCP) entities. READ MORE: Owen Jones: Opposing Israeli violence is 'extremist'? The world's upside down 'This is the exact opposite of the academic rigour we should expect and an outright denial of their commitment to independent thinking and discovery. 'Universities and other entities that continue to ignore such risks do so at the expense not only of their students and stakeholders, but of our democratic societies as a whole. Such free-riding has to stop.' The Scottish Conservative shadow education secretary, Miles Briggs, said there was 'good reason' to be wary of university funding with alleged links to spying, human rights abuses, the military and other issues. 'For too long SNP ministers have been complacent about the overexposure of the university sector in Scotland without investigating where funding has come from,' he claimed. The Ferret contacted the Chinese Embassy which has previously been critical of what it has branded politicised anti-Chinese rhetoric, but we received no response. Universities ensure 'robust due diligence' ABERDEEN University said it has 'robust procedures in place to ensure due diligence around international collaboration', including 'mitigations' for 'higher risk partnerships' such as a team to review security issues, and the use of an official 'trusted research' checklist. A spokesperson added that the university complies with UK regulations including control requirements around the export or transfer in goods, software or technology, including data, information and technical assistance. Heriot-Watt University said global partnerships were 'vital' to advancing its research and teaching, while also benefitting its students, supporting cultural exchange and contributing to the university's financial sustainability. The university complies with UK Government international security guidelines and partnerships are 'rigorously assessed' to ensure 'academic freedom and institutional autonomy,' a spokesperson added. An Edinburgh University spokesperson said all partnerships, 'including donations and research funding, are subject to a rigorous due diligence process'. A Strathclyde University spokesperson said: 'All of our research is subject to risk assessments, ethical approvals and adherence to UK Government guidelines on national security, export control and the Academic Technology Approval Scheme.' A spokesperson for RGU said: 'All of RGU's international collaborations are developed with robust due diligence and are aligned with the university's commitment to research excellence.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Universities are autonomous institutions and are expected to understand and manage the reputational, ethical and security risks associated with international partnerships. 'This includes conducting appropriate due diligence before entering into new partnerships, and monitoring existing partnerships to ensure they comply with relevant legal requirements'. National security is reserved to the UK Government's Home Office, which did not respond to a request to comment. Every organisation in this article was approached for comment, either directly or via the Chinese consulate in Edinburgh and the Chinese embassy in London.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chinese Harvard graduate's speech sparks conservative controversy
[Source] A Chinese Harvard graduate's commencement speech calling for 'shared humanity' has ignited debate online as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to restrict Chinese student visas. What she said Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang, 25, became the first Chinese woman student to speak at a Harvard graduation ceremony on May 29, delivering her nearly seven-minute address titled 'Our Humanity.' Originally from Qingdao, China, she earned a full scholarship to study at Cardiff Sixth Form College in Wales before attending Duke University and completing her Master's in Public Administration in International Development at Harvard Kennedy School. Jiang emphasized global unity in her speech, telling fellow graduates, 'If we still believe in a shared future, let us not forget: those we label as enemies — they, too, are human. In seeing their humanity, we find our own.' Trending on NextShark: She drew from her experiences with classmates from 34 nations, describing how the countries she 'knew only as colorful shapes on a map turned into real people — with laughter, dreams and the perseverance to survive the long winter in Cambridge.' Reactions Jiang's speech largely drew criticism on X, with conservative users accusing her of having Communist Party connections. One popular account followed by Elon Musk and some of President Donald Trump's children alleged that she represented 'a CCP-funded and monitored NGO' and was 'parroting Xi Jinping's diplomatic rhetoric about a 'shared future for mankind.'' Trending on NextShark: Chinese netizens appeared more divided. Some praised Jiang's message, with one RedNote user writing that her ability to 'stand on an international stage and speak the heart of Chinese students has moved me to tears.' Others questioned whether her elite background represented typical Chinese students. Why this matters Jiang's address came at a critical moment as the Trump administration had just revoked Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification — blocking the university from enrolling international students — and announced plans to 'aggressively revoke' visas for Chinese students 'with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' With roughly 30% of Harvard's students being international and about 2,000 coming from China, the policy affects over 277,000 Chinese students nationwide. Trending on NextShark: International students contributed over $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, with Chinese students making up 16% of all graduate STEM students nationwide. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. ! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard slammed for choosing Chinese student with family ties to CCP-affiliated NGO as speaker
Yurong "Luanna" Jiang addresses classmates during commencement ceremonies at Harvard University (Image credits: AP) Harvard University's decision to select Chinese student Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang as a commencement speaker has sparked a wave of controversy alongside praise, after critics raised concerns about her affiliations and family background. One of the most widely circulated criticisms came from X user @amuse, who posted, 'Why would Harvard select a Chinese national affiliated with a CCP-backed NGO whose father is a high-ranking official in that NGO that serves as a quasi-diplomatic agent for the CCP to give the school's commencement address this year?' The post continued: 'Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang, a representative of a CCP-funded and monitored NGO, gave the commencement speech at Harvard parroting Xi Jinping's diplomatic rhetoric about a 'shared future for mankind.' Her father, Jiang Zhiming, is a senior executive in the NGO and serves as a quasi-diplomatic agent for the CCP. The China biodiversity conservation and green development foundation (CBCGDF) has strong ties to the state and Communist Party and was established in 1985 by China's state council. ' The backlash came as Jiang took the stage at Harvard's commencement ceremony on Thursday, the same day the Trump administration announced plans to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, particularly those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or working in sensitive academic fields. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Jiang, who studied international development, titled her speech 'Our Humanity,' and focused on the need for compassion and unity in a divided world. 'Today, that promise of a connected world is giving way to division, fear, and conflict,' she said. 'We're starting to believe that people who think differently, vote differently, or pray differently... are not just wrong. We mistakenly see them as evil.' Her speech received a short standing ovation. She later told Harvard Magazine that although she did not name US President Donald Trump directly, she had him in mind while writing her remarks. 'In a very divided world, we should refuse to demonise those we disagree with,' she said. 'Humanity rises and falls together.' Harvard president Alan Garber also addressed the ceremony, defending the university's international outlook. 'Our global reach is just as it should be,' he said, receiving loud applause. Trump has criticised Harvard for having an international student population of 25 per cent and has called for it to be reduced to 15 per cent. He also warned the university that its federal funding could be at risk unless leadership and policy changes are made. Garber pushed back strongly, calling the administration's actions an 'unlawful attempt to control fundamental aspects of our university's operations.'
