A portal to China is closing, at least temporarily, and researchers are nervous
- CNKI, a portal for Chinese academic papers, will restrict foreign access to some databases starting April 1, for security concerns
- It is unclear when access might be resumed, leading some scholars to fear the suspension might become permanent
China’s top internet portal for academic papers will suspend foreign access to some databases starting next week, sparking concerns among scholars that they will lose not only an important resource for understanding China but also a useful guardrail to reduce misunderstanding between China and the West.
This week, research institutions around the world – including the University of California, San Diego, Kyoto University and the Berlin State Library – notified affiliates that they would indefinitely lose access to up to four databases provided by the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) platform starting on April 1.
In a notice sent to affected institutions on March 17, CNKI’s operator – Tongfang Knowledge Network Technology – noted that the suspension was made in accordance with “the Measures of Data Cross-Border Transfer Assessment and relevant laws effective September 1, 2022”.
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The database operator did not say when access might be resumed, leading some to worry that the suspension might become permanent.