In recent years we have seen many instances of controversy over the mode and extent of Chinese involvement and affiliations in universities across ‘the West’. Since 2019, there have been student protests at the University of Queensland. In Germany, AfD MEPs have asked questions in the European Parliament, and in the UK, guidance was requested (and provided) for dealing with ‘foreign interference’ in universities. There have been many calls to close Confucius Institutes and just recently a Dutch university chose to cut ties with a Chinese funding stream. In short, there is great uncertainty and contention about how to engage in ‘China-West’ academic relations.

In this inaugural edition of 9DASHLINE’s new feature, In Dialogue, we ask two experts the following question: Should ‘Western’ universities reconsider their ties with Chinese research and funding organisations?