When scholars become suspects
Big trouble for free thinkers
THE detention of five scholars, apparently on suspicion of espionage, has lent weight to long-standing criticism that the Chinese government is an enemy of academic freedom. All five are originally from China but have close foreign ties. Wu Jianmin and Li Shaomin are American citizens; Gao Zhan and Qin Guangguang have permanent-resident status in the United States; and Xu Zerong is an Oxford-educated permanent resident of Hong Kong. So far only Miss Gao, a specialist at American University in Washington, DC, on women's issues in China, has been formally charged—with espionage for “overseas intelligence organisations”.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “When scholars become suspects”
From the May 12th 2001 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Asia
Who is Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s possible next president?
The Economist interviews the divisive progressive leader
Is Cambodia slipping out of China’s orbit?
A new generation of leaders could be more receptive to the West
Why Taiwanese youth complain of becoming “housing slaves”
A new generation is questioning the value of homeownership
The Quad finally gets serious on security
The Indo-Pacific coalition signals a tougher approach to China
Taiwan’s political drama is paralysing its government
Domestic dysfunction plays right into China’s hands
An angry culture war surrounds Australia Day
Conservatives claim that wokeness is destroying the national holiday