The Chinese regime is exerting political influence in Dutch universities and research institutions, a think tank report has warned.
After speaking to over 100 researchers, students, and policymakers in the Netherlands, the authors, Ingrid d'Hooghe and Brigitte Dekker, found that Chinese political influence mainly takes the forms of indirect encouragement to self-censor and the obstruction of independent investigation.
“Most researchers, university policymakers, students, and staff or directors of academic publishers working with or in China admit to being engaged in some form of self-censorship,” the report stated. “This concerns not only self-imposed restrictions on freedom of expression, but also on the choice of subjects for research.”
“China would like certain discussions, for example about human rights, not to take place,” she said.
Beijing also allegedly uses Chinese students in the Netherlands to exert influence on other Chinese students, keeping them firmly in line and spreading the regime’s message, d’Hooghe said.
The Chinese regime’s influence operations have affected academic freedom, freedom of expression, the integrity of scientific cooperation, and administrative decision-making in knowledge institutions in the Netherlands, the report stated.
As Dutch researchers avoid sensitive themes or hold back on publishing certain results, the quality of Dutch research on China and knowledge about the country is compromised, d’Hooghe said.
In recent years, Chinese influence operations have become a focus of public attention in the Netherlands. In particular, the widening educational collaboration with China has led to concerns about financial dependence on China, undesirable knowledge transfer, espionage, and political influence.
The report by the Clingendael Institute urges the Dutch government to respond to the situation by actively combating censorship and self-censorship, as well as raising awareness of the risks of political influence in academic cooperation with China.
