Chinese students studying abroad 'living in a climate of fear' over state surveillance
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Chinese authorities “are capable” of conducting the same surveillance on Chinese students in Ireland as has been documented in six other European countries, according to Amnesty Ireland.
The Irish branch of the human rights body was commenting on a new study by Amnesty International, which found China’s intelligence services were snooping on their citizens studying abroad and harassing their families back home.
It found many Chinese international students attending universities in Europe and North America were “living in a climate of fear”.
The students were “compelled to self-censor and curtail” their social and academic activities and relationships or else “risk repercussions from the Chinese state”, the report said.
Amnesty International conducted in-depth interviews with 32 Chinese students studying in six European countries, as well as US and Canada.
The report, entitled ‘On My Campus, I Am Afraid’, said virtually all students interviewed said they self-censored to some degree their activities, fearing repercussions from Chinese authorities.
More than half of the students reported mental health issues linked to their fears, ranging from stress and trauma, to paranoia and depression.
The report found a “deep mistrust” within overseas Chinese student communities, with people worried other students might report them.
“Ten of the students interviewed said Chinese officials targeted their families to prevent the students criticising the Chinese government or its policies while they were overseas,” the report said.
Some 14 students claimed they had been suspiciously photographed or recorded at events.
The report said: “Chinese authorities’ efforts to curtail academic freedom and other rights beyond China’s borders is part of a phenomenon increasingly referred to as ‘transnational repression’, which in this report refers to Chinese authorities’ actions to silence, control or deter dissent and criticism by overseas Chinese students and others, in violation of their human rights.”
It said host countries had “an obligation” to take steps to protect international students in their jurisdiction whose rights are threatened or violated by acts of foreign states. While there are no binding obligations on universities, they have a “responsibility” to ensure the rights of overseas students are respected, it said.
Asked if any of the concerns in the report were replicated in Irish colleges, Amnesty Ireland said: "While no students from universities in Ireland were part of this specific research, we are obviously concerned that the Beijing and Hong Kong authorities are capable of using similar practices which could impact overseas students who are studying here.”
It added: "We reiterate the call for the Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to cease all practices constituting transnational repression and allow overseas students to focus on their studies without fearing for their safety."
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Ireland said: "What the report mentioned is groundless. It is sheer smear and vilification."
Separately, a group of up to 30 Chinese students at University College Cork are claiming they failed their exams because of alleged discrimination, including an incident where a Taiwanese flag was used in class instead of the Chinese flag.