British academics are being offered bribes to ensure they do not criticise the Chinese regime, MPs heard, as part of an inquiry which exposed Beijing’s growing influence in UK universities.
Parliament’s intelligence and security committee uncovered evidence that Chinese officials were approaching lecturers and promising them “professional inducements” such as research funding and travel opportunities.
It was all part of the way that universities had effectively been “bought” by the Communist power, which is exposed in the 200-page report.
Too many universities rely on China for funding and were “turning a blind eye to the risk”, the committee found. It singled out the University of Surrey for taking a £7.5 million donation from Huawei, the Chinese telecoms firm, to fund its 5G/6G Innovation Centre.
Meanwhile, academics and students are facing intimidation from Chinese state authorities, and the committee accused Beijing of infiltrating universities to steal research which could benefit their militaries.
Julian Lewis, the committee chairman, said: “China has been aggressive in its interference activities… It has been particularly effective at using its money and influence to penetrate or buy academia in order to ensure its international narrative is advanced and criticism suppressed.”
