Controversy Arises as Chinese Students Account for 30% of High-value Scholarships for Japanese Doctoral Students

The Japanese government’s doctoral student subsidy of 2.9 million yen per person per year, distributed last year, has attracted attention as nearly 30% of the recipients are Chinese students. Over the past decade, the number of Chinese students studying in Japan has surged, leading to competition with Japanese students for educational resources. Japanese lawmakers are calling for a change in current regulations to create equal opportunities. Overseas Chinese communities are urging Chinese students studying abroad to cherish the opportunity and break away from the influence of the Chinese government’s “party culture.”

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) officials disclosed during a testimony at the Japanese Diet’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on March 24 that 30% of the recipients of the 2.9 million yen per year subsidy for doctoral students from the Japanese government in the 2024 fiscal year were Chinese exchange students.

Senator Haruko Arimura from the Liberal Democratic Party raised concerns during the meeting, stating that this phenomenon is abnormal. She emphasized that for the sake of safeguarding national economic security, Japanese universities should avoid overreliance on foreign exchange students. Arimura stressed that without clear policy directions to support Japanese students, it would not garner the understanding of the citizens.

Starting from 2021, the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under MEXT implemented the “Science and Technology Research Challenge Program” (SPRING), providing doctoral students with up to 2.9 million yen per year for a period of 3 years, which does not require repayment and is not limited by nationality or age.

In 2024, the average annual salary in Japan was 4.24 million yen, with starting annual incomes for university graduates ranging from 2.4 to 3 million yen.

Senator Arimura cited examples during the meeting, mentioning that in Canada, foreign student tuition at national and public universities is 5.5 times higher than that of local students, while in the United States, it is 2.9 times higher. She called for Japan to prioritize its own students, enforce fees that foreign students should bear, and explicitly define principles for supporting Japanese students.

According to MEXT data, in the fiscal year 2024, a total of 10,564 doctoral students received this assistance. Among them, Chinese exchange students accounted for 2,904 people, approximately 30% of the total. Foreign exchange students totaled 4,125, representing 40%, while Japanese students amounted to 6,439, comprising 60%. This is the first time MEXT has disclosed information about Chinese students receiving SPRING aid.

Senator Arimura reposted media coverage of the issue on her X platform, receiving widespread support and encouragement from netizens for her viewpoints.

Some netizens expressed frustration over Chinese students using Japanese taxpayers’ money to study inexpensively, claiming that they are depriving Japanese students of their rightful resources.

Others highlighted disparities in tuition fees between foreign and local students, criticizing preferential treatment for foreign students as abnormal.

There were even concerns raised about whether the Liberal Democratic Party intends to allow Japan and its people to be taken over by China (the Chinese Communist Party).

Some netizens exposed cases of Chinese students misusing the fundings received, such as not participating in research activities but instead preparing for medical exams in Japan using the funding provided by the country. They questioned the purpose of supporting their livelihood with taxpayers’ money if these students do not engage in research activities, as studying abroad should originally be intended for research purposes.

Furthermore, there were calls to cease assistance to Chinese students studying in Japan, citing abnormality in financially supporting students from hostile countries, which contradicts national interests, advocating for a complete ban on Chinese students.

Such expressions of genuine Japanese public opinion and perspectives are mostly communicated on social media platforms, rather than being widely reported in traditional media.

Former Associate Professor at Beijing Normal University, Li Yuanhua, expressed to this news outlet that from the perspective of Japan’s national security and economic security, the proposals put forward by Japanese lawmakers have their merits. He highlighted the previous instances in various countries, including the US, where Chinese high-tech researchers have caused issues by stealing research data upon returning to China, resulting in significant losses for research units and nations.

However, distinguishing potential threats to Japan, especially individuals with special tasks or those intending to serve the Chinese Communist Party, poses a significant challenge for the Japanese education sector.

The University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious academic institution, is a popular choice for many Chinese students and one of the Japanese universities with the highest number of Chinese students. Due to its emphasis on internationalization and research, the Graduate School of the University of Tokyo is more likely to accept international students than undergraduate students and offers more favorable treatment to them. Consequently, many Chinese graduates opt for Tokyo University for their postgraduate studies, relinquishing their diminishing dreams of studying in the US.

According to the analysis by Senator Arimura, the number of Chinese students at the University of Tokyo has surged from 727 in 2008 to 3,396 in 2024, which is a 4.7-fold increase over the span of 16 years. The proportion of Chinese students among all foreign students has also risen from 30% in 2009 to 61% in 2024.

Notably, while the numbers of students from other countries have remained relatively stable, with 1,717 in 2008 and 1,708 in 2024, the percentage mix has shown a declining trend.

Japanese media statistics indicate that currently, there are approximately 5,200 foreign students at the University of Tokyo, of which 3,500 are Chinese students, accounting for nearly 70% of the total. Among graduate students, including Japanese students, one out of every five students is Chinese.

This trend is not unique to the University of Tokyo, as at Kyoto University, the number of Chinese students increased from 528 in 2008 to 1,674 in 2024. The percentage of Chinese students among all international students rose from 40% in 2009 to 57% in 2024. Similar patterns can be observed at other universities.

In Japanese art and art universities, the number of Chinese exchange students has rapidly increased, constituting about 70% of all foreign students. For instance, at Kyoto Seika University, among the total foreign students of 1,273, 909 students are Chinese, accounting for 71%. Similarly, at other art universities such as Kyoto City University of Arts (79%), Musashino Art University (65%), Tama Art University (74%), Bunka Gakuen University (75%), Kyoto University of Art and Design (70%), and Nagoya University of Arts (72%), Chinese students make up the majority.

Japanese media points out that the motivation behind this trend is the Chinese students’ desire to obtain permanent residency in Japan. By graduating, showcasing special skills, and utilizing Japan’s policies to attract foreigners with unique skills for employment, they plan to secure permanent residency in Japan as a pathway to facilitated naturalization.

A publication by the DNR office, a Japanese administrative scrivener familiar with the related issues, revealed some instances where Chinese exchange students were accorded preferential treatment in Japan, describing it as a “bottomless pit.”

The article highlighted disparities, noting that while Japanese students often accumulate substantial student loan debts for education and struggle to repay them after graduation, Chinese students do not face similar obligations. Moreover, many Chinese students receive tuition fee exemptions and living allowances. Some Chinese students proudly shared their funded education journey on social media upon graduation, likening their educational and scholarship attainment to “fishing effortlessly.”

The article criticized the Japanese system for enabling some foreign students to “attend school for free and receive money upon graduation.”

The prevalence of Chinese students studying in Japan can be attributed to various reasons such as political, economic, strategic, social, and international circumstances, resulting from relevant policies of the Japanese government. Universities accepting international students receive government subsidies, amongst other incentives. For Chinese students, the goal is to leverage tuition fee reductions and scholarships to achieve a “free” study experience.

Furthermore, the article brings to light some issues arising from Chinese students studying in Japan, including an instance where a Chinese student profited 13 million yen utilizing Japan’s medical system, among others.

In conclusion, the article calls for a reevaluation and modification of the current system to achieve equal educational opportunities and fair structures.

Masayuki Yamauchi, Honorary Professor at the University of Tokyo, expressed concerns to the media, noting that the University of Tokyo is Japan’s most advanced research institution, engaged in studies related to national security. He emphasized that this situation raises risks that cannot be overlooked.

Regarding students who have grown up in the education system influenced by the Chinese Communist Party, Li Yuanhua highlighted that being indoctrinated by “party culture,” they are instilled with a sense of “patriotism.” Under the influence of the CCP’s unethical culture, lacking academic ethics and moral values, some individuals engage in unlawful activities.

Zhang Ben, a Chinese cultural media figure who studied in Japan 30 years ago, advised that Chinese students and researchers must align their behaviors in normal democratic and free societies with universal values. He emphasized that Japanese society highly values humaneness, laws, and institutional regulations, urging Chinese students studying in Japan, who are fortunate to receive Japanese subsidies, to abide by the law, eradicate the notions instilled by the CCP, and at the very least, conduct themselves and pursue academics diligently and cleanly.