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Rights Protection: How the UK should respond to the People's Republic of China's overseas influence
The extraordinary MI5 interference alert issued in January 2022 over lawyer Christine Lee’s parliamentary lobbying and donations showed Britain’s security services are paying close attention to the political activities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the UK. However, while such issues are rightly matters of concern, evidence of actual PRC influence on UK national security and foreign policy remains limited, compared with its demonstrable and direct impact on human rights and civil liberties of diaspora communities in the UK, and on academic freedom in higher education.
Andrew Chubb's paper calls for policy makers to clearly differentiate between threats to national security, human rights and academic freedom, and recommends practical policy responses tailored to the specific problems in a manner that reinforces core liberal democratic principles.
For the launch reception of the latest issue of the Lau's signature Policy Papers series China In the World: "Rights Protection: How the UK should respond to the PRC's overseas influence", Chubb will revisit the challenges posed by the PRC's influence in the UK, with particular attention to threats to the political and academic freedoms of Chinese diaspora communities in the country.
As part of a panel discussion joined by Professor Eva Pils, Yuan Yin Zhu and more speakers to be announced soon, the author will illustrate the main takeaways and policy recommendations of his paper.
The event will include time for audience Q&A and will be followed by networking drinks.
Please note, places are limited so registration is essential. King's Staff & Students ticket holders will be required to show valid proof of King's ID upon entry.
This event is held in partnership with the Lancaster University China Centre (LUCC)
About the Author and Speakers
Andrew Chubb is British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow at Lancaster University, researching China's foreign relations. He is the author of PRC Overseas Political Activities: Risk, Reaction and the Case of Australia (Routledge & Royal United Services Institute, 2021), and a member of the Academic Freedom and Internationalisation Working Group (AFIWG), which has developed a Model Code of Conduct for universities to uphold academic freedom in the context of internationalisation of higher education. His recent articles can be found in International Security, Journal of Contemporary China, and International Relations of the Asia-Pacific.
Eva Pils is Professor of Law at King's College London, an affiliated scholar at the US-Asia Law Institute of New York University Law School, and an external member of the Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg. She studied law, philosophy and sinology in Heidelberg, London and Beijing and holds a PhD in law from University College London. At King's, she teaches courses on human rights; law and society in China; and authoritarianism, populism and the law. Before joining King’s in 2014, Eva was an associate professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law. She is a member of the Academic Freedom and Internationalisation Working Group and a legal action committee member of the Global Legal Action Network.
Yuan Yi Zhu is a researcher based at Nuffield and Pembroke Colleges, University of Oxford. His research interests include China's international relations and the development of the modern international order. He is also a senior research fellow at Policy Exchange, a leading London think tank, as well as a regular media commentator on British and Chinese politics.
About the LCI Policy Series
The Lau Policy Series brings researchers, academics and policymakers together to discuss key policy challenges relating to China. From China’s impact on renewable technology to tensions with the United States, the series aims to present clear analyses to help us understand contemporary China, its actions and its effect on the world.
This inaugural series, titled ‘China in the World’, explores how China operates beyond its borders in its new role as a political and economic superpower. It will look at issues ranging from the changing role of diplomacy to the creation of new foreign investment programmes such as the Belt and Road Initiative. You can find the full collection of the Lau Policy Series here.