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Cambridge professor whose role was ‘funded by China’ cautioned against Uyghur debate

Exclusive: Academic tells students that discussing China’s human rights record may not be ‘helpful to advancing mutual understanding’

By Sam Dunning, Martin Williams, Peter Geoghegan and Gabriel Pogrund
Cambridge professor whose role was ‘funded by China’ cautioned against Uyghur debate
Jesus College Cambridge, where Peter Nolan is based, has financial ties with China | Robert Evans / Alamy Stock Photo
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A Cambridge professor, who took a role allegedly funded by the family of China’s former prime minister, has cautioned students against holding debates on Uyghur human rights abuses, openDemocracy can reveal.

Professor Peter Nolan said it would be "difficult to contain the sentiment" about the discussion, in which “both sides” would need to be represented. He explained that a contentious outcome would not be “helpful to advancing mutual understanding”.

In a transcript of a private meeting obtained by openDemocracy and shared with the Sunday Times, Nolan said: “It is not the case that there is a homogeneous, correct view of what is happening in Xinjiang.”

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