The Chinese Ministry of State Security recently published a document accusing some overseas study intermediary agencies of “tampering with students’ resumes,” leading to study applications filled with so-called “counter-revolutionary” speech that “endangers national security.” Observers believe that many Chinese families want their children to go abroad and never return, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is aware that it is not accepted by world civilization, and the regime is facing a critical point, thus being on high alert.
On August 9, the Chinese Ministry of State Security posted on its WeChat public account, alleging that with the help of “certain intermediary agencies,” foreign forces are infiltrating youth student groups through study applications by “concealing ‘private goods’ in the application documents and adding a large amount of illegally altered content,” damaging the “national image” and endangering “national security.”
The document stated that a young student named Zhang, who was preparing to study abroad, purchased the “Elite VIP” service from a certain study intermediary agency. The agency claimed that universities in a certain country offer a “green channel” for Chinese students, and by just “polishing” the application documents, the success rate could be increased. Subsequently, the student’s application documents were altered to include “counter-revolutionary political statements.” In May of this year, the intermediary agency and its personnel were punished.
However, the document did not disclose the name of the intermediary agency involved, nor did it specify which country was implicated.
This message from the Chinese Ministry of State Security has spread on Weibo, causing a ripple effect. Some netizens commented, “It’s hard to guard against. Parents planning to send their kids abroad should be cautious.” “Many moms in the group have started consulting since elementary school.” “You can’t condemn others for seduction while also unjustly deporting them.”
Lai Jianping, a former Beijing lawyer and the chairman of the Canadian Alliance, told the media that the Chinese Ministry of State Security paying such attention to the details of these study applications only indicates that the CCP’s regime is on the verge of an explosive crisis, making them respond as if facing a major enemy.
Lai Jianping believes that there are two possible reasons for the actions of the Chinese Ministry of State Security. Firstly, they might be using this issue to suppress intermediary agencies and curb the trend of people immigrating abroad. Secondly, some countries or schools may relax admission standards for Chinese students with independent thinking abilities, which unsettles the CCP.
In fact, Chinese people face stringent controls when going abroad. Dilxat Raxit, the spokesperson for the World Uyghur Congress, explained that Uyghurs face tedious procedures when applying for passports and are often unable to obtain them at all. Those who have gone abroad for studies or visits are almost always forced into concentration camps upon return, aimed at keeping them under the control and surveillance of the authorities.
The concern about “foreign forces infiltrating youth student groups” expressed by the Chinese Ministry of State Security was labeled as one-sided by Wu Shaoping, a Chinese human rights lawyer residing in the United States. He believes the Ministry is trying to intimidate the general public through this issue.
Wu Shaoping stated that having interacted with Chinese students studying abroad, many are from privileged families and show support for the CCP’s authoritarian regime. Their presence abroad could pose a threat to the national security of other countries, and some could even be spies for the CCP, leading to the CCP deflecting the blame onto them.
“These students, even if they fabricate resumes and anti-CCP statements, are deceiving the country they wish to go to, making the victim these countries.”
The ongoing intellectual property theft and infiltration activities of Chinese spies in Europe and the United States have raised concerns in recent years. Several Chinese science and engineering students in the U.S. have been investigated and deported. The U.S. authorities particularly scrutinize CCP membership and political backgrounds when it comes to these students’ computer-related research backgrounds. Following the U.S.’s lead, several European universities have also imposed restrictions on technical Chinese students studying abroad.
Historian Li Yuanhua, based in Australia, said that the background behind the Chinese Ministry of State Security’s publication of this article lies in the economic downturn in China, where many families hope their children can quickly study abroad and remain overseas. However, staying abroad as a skilled migrant is relatively difficult, which leads many students to apply for asylum.
According to the latest data released by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, over the past five years, a total of 3,555 Chinese students have applied for political asylum from the Australian government, a number significantly higher than that of students from any other country, and the figures continue to rise. Some observers point out that human rights conditions and freedom of speech are factors driving Chinese students to seek asylum.
Li Yuanhua mentioned that some students can even go abroad for studies under the guise of not needing to study; they can directly apply for refugee status.
“But refugee applications require you to write about how you were persecuted in China. If they don’t know themselves, the intermediary company helps them polish it, and the company earns money. Students will write about their families being persecuted, and the CCP feels that their ugly deeds are being publicized, so they issued this notice to try and control intermediaries.”
Wu Shaoping believes that if the CCP believes that so-called counter-revolutionary speech can increase the success rate of study applications abroad, it indicates that the CCP also knows it is not accepted by world civilization.
(Note: Reporter Luo Ya contributed to this article)