The Dutch government is set to impose stricter vetting measures on international students following concerns raised by universities regarding the potential national security risks posed by some Chinese postgraduates. Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf confirmed that he is investigating the possibility of curtailing international participation in certain programmes, after several universities announced plans to reduce the number of Chinese students owing to their links with the communist regime. The move is part of a growing trend across the EU, whereby concerns are being raised over perceived security and economic threats posed by Beijing. Many universities are uneasy about students who are funded by the China Scholarship Council, as recipients of these grants have to sign an oath of allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party, and must report to the Chinese embassy within two years of completing their studies. A study is being conducted to identify how many CSC researchers are present in the Netherlands, and in which fields they are operating, with a view to determining which areas are of greatest concern. The government is also preparing a “Knowledge Security Screening” law, which will apply risk-oriented assessments to any non-EU country, rather than to Chinese students specifically. The Dutch trade minister, Liesje Schreinemacher warned that China may attempt to bypass the restrictions imposed by targeting Dutch universities.
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