The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in an attempt to control the opinion of China’s overseas students has started an online portal that allows Chinese citizens to identify and call out their own for “political crimes”, sparking fears of censorship among the international students and academics.

Muhammad Faizal, a noted security analyst and a Research Fellow at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, feel Chinese nationals living overseas have good reasons to fear offending the CCP.

“Firstly, China’s National Intelligence Law (2017) makes it obligatory for Chinese citizens in the country and overseas to support intelligence work for state security. Secondly, China’s United Front Work Department is reaching out to Chinese citizens overseas to influence them and curb dissent. Thirdly, China’s social credit system demonstrates the CCP’s seriousness in controlling the behaviours of its citizens.”