Students from China and Hong Kong studying abroad are finding themselves hesitant about engaging with political or ‘sensitive’ topics due to a fear of transnational repression, according to a
report by Amnesty International. The report, titled “On My Campus, I am Afraid,” delves into how these nationals experience intimidation, harassment, and surveillance from Chinese authorities, resulting in a pervading reluctance from these students to exercise their human rights while on foreign campuses.
The findings of the report are based on the research conducted by Amnesty International between June 2023 and April 2024. It uncovers the experiences of 32 Chinese students, including 12 from Hong Kong, who studied at overseas universities between 2018 and 2023. These students shared numerous incidents where family members in mainland China were harassed by Chinese officials, threats to revoke passports or even loss of jobs.
Student interviewees claimed to have been photographed or recorded during public events like protests. A pervasive ‘climate of fear’ seems to make self-censorship the norm amongst the interviewees. This constant state of pressure has led to a host of mental health issues amongst the students, as per their reports.
China’s systematic surveillance is widely enabled by the “Great Firewall” that mandates overseas students to rely on state-approved apps such as WeChat for communication with their kin in China. Recent amendments in Hong Kong’s national security laws and the Article 23 of Hong Kong Basic Law only make the surveillance more extensive and public opinion more restricted. This imposition has been criticized by international NGOs, including Amnesty International, for significantly undermining human rights. For more information, you can refer to this piece on China’s Great Firewall or this explainer on recent changes in Hong Kong’s national security laws.
According to Sarah Brooks, Amnesty International’s China Director, the tactic of monitoring overseas students and targeting their China-based family members is a calculated move aimed at controlling nations from afar. For her full statement, you can refer here.
The report warns that this fear can have a chilling effect on freedom of speech, threatening to perpetuate a system where some students’ rights are more secure than others’. With an estimated 900,000 Chinese students studying abroad, the report also urges host governments and universities to implement protective measures like educating communities and setting up reporting mechanisms.