St Andrews University sends its exchange students to Taiwan instead of China amid national security concerns
- The university believes it is safer for their Chinese students to go to the island
- It prides itself on not being entangled with the controversial Confucius Institute
One of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious universities is sending its exchange students to Taiwan rather than China amid national security concerns, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The University of St Andrews, attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales, believes it is safer for their Chinese studies students to go to the island rather than the mainland for their year abroad, to avoid them being recruited as Communist spies.
The university, which is also the alma mater of the alleged Westminster ‘Chinese spy’ whose identity was uncovered this month, has several UK and foreign students on its unique Chinese studies course, founded by Professor Gregory Lee.
Unlike some other universities, the department prides itself on not being entangled with the controversial Confucius Institute, a Chinese teaching institution widely acknowledged as the propaganda arm of the Chinese state.
In an interview with the MoS, Professor Lee said his department was arranging for the majority of its students to go to Taiwan so they were not ‘subject’ to Communist state interference.
The University of St Andrews, attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales , believes it is safer for their Chinese studies students to go to the island
It is understood that the Education Department has agreed the move. Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province (Pictured: Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan)
He added they were also advising the youngsters on how to spot spy recruiters and to avoid being ‘taken in’ by glamorous perceptions of espionage.
READ MORE: Chinese ‘spy’ at the heart of Parliament
The male suspect, who is said to be in his late twenties, is thought to be linked to numerous Tory MPs – including security minister Tom Tugendhat (pictured)
He said: ‘At the moment, all our students going abroad [are] to go to Taiwan. I’ve worked over the last couple of years to make sure we’ve got very strong relations with Taiwan.
‘That’s what we’re trying to do, not necessarily for political reasons but because at least you can send people to a relatively safe and stable place where they’re not going to be subject to this.
‘Students are given advice in function of the current situation.
While students are not actively discouraged from choosing to study in mainland China, they are informed of the risks.
‘We currently have many more exchange places with Taiwan than with mainland China.’
Last week the MoS revealed that Chinese teachers from Confucius Institutes working in British classrooms are to be replaced by recruits from Taiwan.
It is understood that the Education Department has agreed the move. Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province.
Almost all British Government spending on Chinese-language teaching at schools is channelled through the 30 university-based institutes and Confucius Classrooms, an offshoot, at almost 150 schools.
They claim to promote Chinese culture but critics say they are a vehicle for Beijing to spread propaganda.
Last night Benedict Rogers, chief executive of Hong Kong Watch, said: ‘China’s increasing aggression does mean the risks of both hostage diplomacy and espionage are growing, and therefore it is wise for students to go to Taiwan rather than China.
‘Recent allegations of espionage in Westminster, if found to be true, illustrate that the Chinese state’s recruitment of spies is not limited to their own citizens, but has the potential to include foreign nationals as well.’
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