Tighter controls on Chinese universities will stifle innovation, scholars warn

A central directive to increase ideological indoctrination at universities is intended to tighten control over freethinkers, but runs counter to the government's desire to encourage academic innovation, scholars say.

The General Offices of the Communist Party's Central Committee and State Council this week ordered universities to step up their propaganda and teaching of Marxism and Chinese socialism, after a call from President Xi Jinping for greater "ideological guidance" for teachers and students.

Scholars said the directive was part of Xi's effort to persuade young people to accept party rule amid growing scepticism among students, who have been enjoying an increasingly freewheeling academic atmosphere in class.

"The crusade is intended to control those freethinkers who defy party ideology in class lectures," said Gu Xiao , a professor of political philosophy at Nanjing University.

Gu said universities had been enjoying relatively freethinking atmospheres despite the government's increasing attempts at ideological control in recent years.

Another scholar said the government feared the ideas behind the student-led movements in Hong Kong and Taiwan last year could spread to the mainland. Students led both Hong Kong's 79-day Occupy Central movement and Taiwan's "sunflower movement" last March.

Yang Long , a professor of political science at Nankai University, said the directive might have in part been prompted by a report by Liaoning Daily, which in November claimed teachers had been "defaming" China by criticising Mao Zedong , comparing government policies to the West and exaggerating social problems. Yang agreed the decision might also be partly motivated by student movements in Hong Kong and Taiwan.