Hearing on China's Influence on U.S. Universities Set for Dec. 4

Statement

A hearing entitled "Is Academic Freedom Threatened by China's Influence on U.S. Universities?" will be held Dec. 4 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the global human rights subcommittee in the House of Representatives and co-chairman of the U.S. Commission on China.

"The Chinese educational market is a lucrative one, but we have to ask if there are any hidden costs for American schools and colleges seeking access to that market," said Smith, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. "By rushing to build campuses in China and signing agreements to have Chinese government entities on American campuses, are universities and schools accepting restrictions on foundational principles of American higher education? The American university model is the world's best and they should be ambassadors for freedom and democracy globally. They should also be islands of freedom where foreign students can enjoy the fundamental freedoms denied them in their own country. Our witnesses will provide information on the growing presence of American universities in China and the presence of Chinese government educational entities on American campuses through "Confucius Institutes.' They will also detail some of the costs and benefits of such educational partnerships and offer recommendations on how such partnerships can protect academic freedom and the fundamental human rights of faculty and students."

Source