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Asia In Brief China has stopped recognizing online study at overseas institutions and called on students to get on a plane and resume face to face study.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange – the body responsible for recognition of credentials earned overseas – had a policy of acknowledging only study conducted face to face. However, as a Saturday announcement and Sunday followup FAQ explained, travel restrictions imposed in response to COVID meant relaxing that policy.
With China’s zero-COVID policy abandoned, and overseas travel again permitted, the Service Center has reverted to its previous stance.
The agency told students to get back to campus as soon as possible.
That won’t be easy. Most northern hemisphere universities have already commenced a new term or semester, and many educational institutions in the southern hemisphere are mere days away from starting their post-summer semesters. There is precious little time to arrange visas, travel, and local accommodation.
China often states that its universities can match similar institutions anywhere, but doesn’t mind its citizens studying abroad as they can gain perspectives unavailable at home. Chinese students can also exercise soft power on Beijing’s behalf – some have been known to stage local protests in nations that take issue with the Middle Kingdom’s policies. Many also continue to use made-in-China online services like WeChat and AliPay, creating demand for them around the world.
– Simon Sharwood
South Korean authorities last week admitted that a dozen of the nation’s universities experienced website outages, after China-linked attackers decided to protest the unavailability of short term visas to visit the country.
One of the changes that has followed the end of China’s zero-COVID policy is that Chinese citizens are again able to travel overseas. Fearing a wave of COVID-positive visitors, South Korea suspended issuance of short term visas in China.
China did likewise and the two nations have sniped at each other since.
Some Chinese appear to have taken the matter further with attacks on South Korean universities. The alleged perps took to Telegram to state the reason for the website takedowns was to « invade » South Korea’s digital realm in protest at not being able to visit it physically.
South Korea’s Internet & Security Agency (KISA) was also targeted by the attackers.
