China and education: always a hassle
The House of Representatives is bombarding the cabinet with questions about collaboration between the Amsterdam universities of the UvA and VU and the Chinese tech company Huawei. Why is a pact between education and China invariably a hassle? Eight questions and answers.
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The University of Amsterdam and VU University are going to set up a research laboratory for artificial intelligence together with Huawei. The Chinese company is investing 3,5 million euros, it reports Financieele Dagblad. The House of Representatives has doubts about this plan, it appears Parliamentary questions from CDA, D66, PVV and VVD.
1. Why is the collaboration sensitive?
China is a world power and would have the ability to spy on other countries through technology companies. That is why some countries, for example, do not want Huawei to cooperate in the development of the new 5G network.
2. But this is about artificial intelligence and search engines. Isn't that something else?
China's rise as an economic superpower is also a factor. Critics fear that China will all want to use Western knowledge and technology to strengthen its own position. Scientific collaboration is therefore under attack. Research institute Clingendael stated in July that China is trying to influence Dutch higher education and research. Censorship and self-censorship are said to be lurking.
3. What has Huawei to do with it?
China is a totalitarian state. Should the government appeal to Huawei, the company has little choice but to cooperate.
4. Do other universities not cooperate with Huawei?
Yes. For example, TU Delft, Leiden University and TNO are collaborating in the Digital Human Capital Agenda The Hague, with Huawei and a whole range of other partners, such as the Ministry of the Interior, Shell and the ANWB. In Groningen, the University of Groningen and Hanze University of Applied Sciences are working together with Huawei and other parties on the 5G network.
5. Is there still academic cooperation with China possible?
It is difficult. The precious plans for a campus of the University of Groningen in Yantai, China, were canceled in 2018. But academic cooperation between the Netherlands and China has certainly not ceased, like the board of TU Delft here explains.
6. The UvA and the VU are also aware of the possible objections, aren't they?
Yes, and they have discussed their plans with the Ministries of OCW and the Interior. Talks were also held with the intelligence service AIVD and the counterterrorism coordinator. Apparently no major objection has emerged from this.
7. What is the Lower House concerned about then?
You may indeed be allowed to formally cooperate with Chinese companies, but whether it is desirable is a political question. The CDA, for example, fears that artificial intelligence will later be used for (digital) war purposes. “What role does national security play in this?” the party asks.
8. Does xenophobia (fear of foreigners) play a role in the criticism of cooperation?
According to a top executive of Huawei well, and there are more people who find the accusations exaggerated. But China is also under fire, for example because of the actions against human rights activists and the protest in Hong Kong. As China moved in the direction of more openness and freedom, the main advantages seemed to be to cooperate with China. It would help the country move forward. The course seems to have changed since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013.
