Harvard’s delicate balancing act between academic freedom and Chinese relations faces growing scrutiny after a dissident scholar’s chilling claims.
At a Glance
- Harvard faces allegations of bowing to CCP pressure over academic events.
- Dissident Teng Biao claims censorship following his arrival at Harvard.
- Harvard’s decades-long relationship with China is under fresh examination.
- Scholars and critics warn of growing CCP influence on American campuses.
Harvard’s Tangled Ties to China
The tension between academic independence and international diplomacy is playing out at Harvard University, where new reports highlight concerns about Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence on campus. Chinese dissident Teng Biao, a human rights lawyer persecuted by Chinese authorities, described facing pressure even while a visiting scholar at Harvard, according to The Harvard Crimson.
Teng’s experiences offer a stark view into Harvard’s balancing act. After surviving disbarment, house arrest, and torture in China, Teng found safe harbor through the Scholars at Risk program. Yet even at Harvard, he said, CCP sensitivities loomed large.
“I am grateful that Harvard [could] host me for a year. It’s not easy, because I’m a dissident very, very critical of the Chinese Communist Party,” Teng told The Harvard Crimson.
Watch as critics dissect Harvard’s China ties in this Twitter thread.
Canceling Free Speech?
Tensions peaked when Teng and fellow activist Chen Guangcheng tried to organize a public event critical of the CCP. The event was abruptly canceled, reportedly to avoid upsetting diplomatic overtures with Chinese officials. Professor William P. Alford, a Harvard Law School leader involved, defended the decision as a matter of timing, noting, “I did ask that he schedule the event in question after our University President had left Beijing,” according to The Harvard Crimson.
The incident has fueled accusations that Harvard compromised its principles to maintain favor with Beijing, a charge amplified by critics at Conservative Review.
Long History, New Risks
Harvard’s engagement with China spans over a century, with programs like the Harvard China Fund and Harvard China Health Partnership cementing deep institutional ties. Originally celebrated as bridges between cultures, these partnerships now draw suspicion as China’s global ambitions—and influence efforts—have grown more aggressive.
Critics argue that China’s investments and partnerships with American universities come at the cost of open inquiry. Harvard’s experience may just be a glimpse into a much broader global challenge.
Explore more reactions in this Twitter discussion.
The Road Ahead
Harvard now stands at a crossroads. As concerns about CCP influence rise, the university must reckon with how to safeguard academic freedom while maintaining valuable international collaborations. The broader world of higher education is watching—and the stakes for free speech on campus have never been higher.
