Schwarzman Scholars plan raises doubts over Beijing interference

Stephen Schwarzman is already renowned in the global financial community for Blackstone, the investment firm the American co-founded in 1985. He will also be remembered now as a good friend of China, after his launch of a US$300 million scholarship programme dedicated to the world's No 2 economy.

The "Schwarzman Scholars" programme, which won blessings from US President Barack Obama and China's new leader, Xi Jinping, aims to attract 200 students annually, including 45 per cent from the US and 20 per cent from China, to study at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of the mainland's most prestigious universities. Those who are admitted to the elite programme will be asked to focus on areas including public policy, economics and business, international relations and engineering.

The programme, described by Schwarzman as the largest charitable effort in China's history where the funds are coming largely from outside the country, has quickly attracted both praise and concern since it was announced late last month.

China-focused scholarship or educational programmes are seen as reflecting the fast-growing importance of China on the global political and economic stages. But critics say the key to making the programmes work is not only about how much money is raised but also about how to select the right talent and run the programmes without government interference.

Britain has been working with the Chinese government for many years on the Chevening scholarship, which is funded by the Foreign Office in London.

The scholarship is open to public applications in China, but it is also understood that part of the quota will be reserved for talent referred directly by the Beijing government, often including many mid-rank central or local government-level officials who are selected by the Communist Party of China.

Last year, 89 Chevening scholars from China studied in Britain, and most are expected to return to China after they complete their studies. Some past Chevening scholars returned to take up important positions in the mainland's public security and propaganda ministries, while a few others chose to stay abroad.