UK universities have received substantial funding from Chinese sources, raising concerns about influence and academic freedom
London: So, it turns out that top British universities have raked in a whopping £50 million from Chinese organizations over the last four years. This info comes from some freedom of information requests, and it’s got experts worried about the growing influence of Beijing in the UK.
Oxford and Cambridge are at the top of the list, with Oxford pulling in around £24 million and Cambridge between £12 million and £19 million. Some of this cash came from Huawei, which is a bit controversial since they were banned from the UK’s telecoms scene back in 2020.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, is sounding the alarm. He says British universities are getting too cozy with Chinese money, which could be stifling free speech and debate about China’s human rights record. He believes this isn’t just a coincidence; it’s part of a bigger strategy by China to gather sensitive information.
For instance, Oxford got £1.8 million from Sichuan University for biomedical research. This university has some serious red flags, being linked to China’s nuclear program and cyber espionage. Oxford also received over £3 million from Chinese sources in the last financial year, but they’re keeping the details under wraps.
When asked about it, an Oxford spokesperson insisted that funders don’t influence research or teaching. They have strict policies in place to ensure academic freedom is protected.
Cambridge, on the other hand, has been a bit vague about their funding amounts, but they’ve also received money from organizations tied to the Chinese military. They claim that less than 1% of their research grants come from China and that they scrutinize all donations carefully.
Edinburgh and Sheffield universities have also accepted millions from Chinese sources, including some from Huawei and a company linked to the Chinese military. It’s clear that the total funding from China could be even higher since some universities didn’t respond to information requests.
Experts are urging UK universities to be more transparent about these donations, especially from authoritarian regimes. They believe that while international partnerships can be beneficial, universities need to be cautious and aware of the risks involved.
