Amnesty International has released a report detailing the harassment and surveillance faced by Chinese and Hong Kong students studying in European universities as a result of their activism. The Chinese authorities have been targeting these students, monitoring them during demonstrations and protests, as well as online. Additionally, family members of these students back in China have also been threatened and harassed by authorities due to their relatives’ activism abroad. Nearly half of the interviewed students reported being photographed or filmed by individuals believed to be acting on behalf of the Chinese state.
The impact of China’s transnational repression is posing a threat to freedom and democracy in Europe, as Chinese and Hong Kong students live in constant fear of intimidation, harassment, and surveillance by Beijing authorities. The report by Amnesty International sheds light on the challenges these students face on European soil, where they are being targeted for their involvement in human rights activism. The Chinese government’s crackdown on activism extends beyond its borders, with implications for academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas in universities.
According to the report, some Chinese students have faced retaliation from the authorities in China, with their families being harassed as a form of punishment for their activism abroad. The Chinese government has a sophisticated strategy to restrict the rights of its nationals, surveilling students abroad and targeting their family members living in China. This systematic tactic is intended to control Chinese nationals remotely, affecting the families of the students studying overseas in European countries.
Amnesty International highlights the vulnerability of Chinese students to surveillance, given China’s advanced technological censorship capabilities. The report emphasizes the need for governments and universities in Europe and North America to step up efforts to protect these students. With approximately 900,000 Chinese students studying abroad, host countries are legally obligated to ensure the safety and security of foreign students on their campuses. However, universities in Europe and North America are often unaware and unprepared to address transnational repression and its impact on their campuses.
The findings come after a Madrid-based NGO revealed that the Chinese Communist Party has been abducting its overseas citizens on EU territory for the past decade. The Chinese government has used a network of police offices in EU countries to pressure dissidents to return to China. These covert operations, including a so-called repatriation program, have raised concerns about China’s activities in Europe and the implications for Chinese nationals living abroad. The involvement of Chinese authorities in monitoring and harassing overseas students underscores the need for increased awareness and action to protect their rights and freedom of expression.
Amnesty International’s report calls attention to the pervasive influence of the Chinese government on the lives of Chinese and Hong Kong students studying in Europe. The transnational repression tactics employed by Beijing authorities have created a climate of fear and intimidation among these students, impacting their academic freedom and personal safety. The international community, including governments and universities, must address the challenges faced by Chinese students abroad and take measures to safeguard their rights and protect them from surveillance and harassment by foreign authorities.
