Freedom for American Colleges in China Has Its Limits, Federal Report Says

A long-awaited report on American university campuses in China will probably satisfy neither critics nor supporters of such overseas branches. The federal study, by the Government Accountability Office, found that American colleges operating in China emphasize academic freedom, including added protections for academic speech in agreements with their Chinese counterparts.

But investigators noted that not all of the 12 institutions surveyed had unfettered internet access, and that some faculty members and students reported that they self-censored, steering clear of potentially contentious topics like Tibet and the 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square.

The inquiry was conducted at the request of Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican who has been a fierce critic of American universities’ ties in China, even holding congressional hearings on the subject.

He echoes the misgivings of critics of the overseas branches, who have questioned whether institutions like New York University, which opened a campus in Shanghai three years ago, are sacrificing core values in order to work in China.