Experts: Enhancing Awareness of the Threat Posed by the CCP is Extremely Important

The “Foreign Influence Registration System” in the UK is set to be implemented this summer, requiring individuals conducting influence operations for foreign entities in the UK to register with authorities and report related activities. Chinese international students may have to disclose their relationships with the Chinese Communist Party. National security experts emphasize the importance of bolstering awareness and prevention against threats posed by the CCP.

Recently, the British media reported that the UK’s Home Office will enforce the “Foreign Influence Registration System” (FIRS) starting this summer, which will also apply to international students. International students acting on behalf of entities listed under FIRS while in the UK will be required to register.

The FIRS country list is divided into two security levels: “Political Influence Level” and “Enhanced Level.” Countries on the “Enhanced Level” list are considered to pose a higher risk to the UK and will be subject to stricter monitoring.

It is reported that the UK government has not yet included Communist China in the “Enhanced Level” list, but sources quoted by the British media suggest that the FIRS system will be used to combat international students “entering into agreements with entities such as the CCP.”

Dr. Zhong Zhidong from Taiwan’s Institute of National Defense and Security Studies believes that the UK’s policy requiring Chinese international students to disclose their relationships with the CCP under FIRS aims to prevent hostile or competing nations from accessing or stealing critical technologies. This also indicates the UK’s efforts to enhance awareness of the threat posed by the CCP.

He stated that in the past, the CCP could easily acquire high technology at a low cost, leading to China’s rapid rise, increased competitiveness in industries, accelerated modernization of China’s defense, and posing a threat to the security of European, American, Western countries, and global security.

Dr. Zhong believes that if the UK places China in the “Enhanced Level” list under FIRS, it will “significantly increase restrictions on future Chinese students entering the UK,” leading to enhanced monitoring of students with CCP backgrounds, particularly in sensitive technological fields, with continuously updated legal regulations on student and scholar exchanges.

He further mentioned, “The UK is definitely not an isolated case. I believe that similar laws will gradually be enacted in European Union countries.”

The FIRS policy was formulated by the former Conservative government in the UK in 2023. Guo Yuxuan, a Chinese international student in the UK, stated that after the next UK general election, the Conservative Party is likely to return to power and will take tougher actions under FIRS. She advises fellow students not to work for the CCP and not sabotage their own future.

She said, “Since you want to live in a free world, or have already escaped the red terror under the CCP dictatorship, you must be willing to face reality, accept the truth, not deceive yourself, and not continue to deceive yourself. Sometimes you may face temptations from the CCP, but do not assist the CCP in carrying out tasks overseas, engaging in illegal espionage activities, thus ruining your own future.”

While the stance of the current UK Labour government on the CCP regime under the FIRS policy remains to be seen, Guo Yuxuan said, “Nowadays, studying abroad is challenging because overall policies are becoming stricter.”

Guo Yuxuan mentioned that even though the official information on the FIRS policy does not currently involve Chinese international students, if the UK government decides to investigate someone, that individual must cooperate with the investigation, and the best way to respond is to “maintain innocence.”

She stated, “The internet is highly developed, truths are everywhere, understanding the truth is very easy, do not continue to be brainwashed by the CCP, do not believe in CCP lies, this is the most important. Maintain your innocence.”