A New Zealand university has withdrawn a complaint against its China expert Anne-Marie Brady after ordering a controversial internal review that raised international concerns about academic freedom and Chinese influence.
Brady, a leading China scholar at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, has done in-depth research on the political influence of Chinese government propaganda and implementation in New Zealand and other countries, and published a study on the subject in 2017, according to the Financial Times. In response to Brady’s report, the university received four complaints. The University of Canterbury then decided to review Professor Brady’s work rather than require the complainants to publish their concerns in their own academic papers. The decision drew a global outcry, and in October more than 120 scholars worldwide on China issued an open letter calling on the university to apologize to Professor Brady and criticizing its decision to conduct the review.
The University of Canterbury said Friday that the review concluded that the report by Professor Brady and her co-authors was in line with the university’s policies and procedures and its responsibilities under the New Zealand Education Act. “The committee noted that Professor Brady’s work was based on long-term research and extensively cited other sources,” the university said. “The University of Canterbury affirms its support for the legal freedom of staff and students to present new ideas, and to state controversial or unpopular views.”
Professor Brady welcomed the conclusion of the review process and noted that neither her lawyers nor herself could see any grounds for complaint.
New Zealand is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network of the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia. Former CIA analyst Peter Mattis told the U.S. Congress that New Zealand’s involvement in the Five Eyes program should be reconsidered because of its close ties with Beijing.
Recent Comments