Turmoil Over China’s First University In Hungary (Worthy News In-depth)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent reporting from Budapest, Hungary
(Worthy News) – Political tensions are rising in Hungary over government plans to build the European Union’s first Chinese university campus in Budapest, the capital, despite security and social concerns.
Leaked documents show the $1.8 billion Fudan Hungary University would be financed mainly by a Chinese loan, build by a Chinese firm and replace a housing complex promised to Hungarian students known as Diákváros
The mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, said providing affordable housing to thousands of students is more important than serving China’s interests. He warned the government that if Diákváros (‘Students City’) is abandoned or squeezed out by the Chinese university, there will be consequences. “If there is no Diákváros, there is no 2023 World Athletics Championships either.”
He added that a letter to IAAF (International Amateur Athletic Federation) rescinding the invitation would be enough.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief-of-staff, Gergely Gulyás, tried to play down the threat, though Budapest and not the government is hosting the sports event. The government claims the 520,000-square-meters-campus to open in 2024 will “accommodate 5,000-6,000 students” and 500 academics.
The row follows revelations by investigative news site Direkt36 citing documents that Fudan Hungary University would cost $1.8 billion, of which $1.6 billion would be covered by a loan from China to be repaid within 15 years.
DECLARATION OF INTENT
Orbán’s government already announced a declaration of intent between Hungary and China to establish the Budapest campus for Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University. But the price tag of the February announcement wasn’t clear till this week.
Opposition parties from across the political spectrum fear the plan will leave Hungary in debt to Communist-run China and increase its influence over the country and the region.
Hungary already committed itself to a controversial railroad line between Budapest and Belgrade financed with a Chinese loan of 700 billion forints ($2.3 billion).
Orbán, the hardline prime minister, also made headlines by mentioning China, Russia, and Turkey as among examples to follow for establishing an “illiberal” state.
Ironically he also claims to support Christians persecuted in countries such as China. Asked by a Worthy News reporter whether he defends his perceived cozy relationship with autocratic leaders, Orbán said: “If the foreign policy of any country in the world was based on that we cooperate only with those countries who are in Western understanding democracies, two-third of the world would be out of our foreign policy reach.”
He has lashed out at what he sees as liberal institutions. That’s why the Central European University (CEU) of U.S. philanthropist George Soros, an Orbán critic, was forced to end most Hungary operations, critics say. The CEU said it was forced out due to politically motivated regulations.
EDUCATION EXPANSION
However, Hungary’s right-wing government seems to have no problems with China’s next education expansion into the heart of Europe.
Fudan University said, “Hungary will provide land and teaching and research facilities for the new campus as well as legal and administrative support.”
Among the thousands of students will be Chinese, Hungarian, and other youngsters, officials say. The institution explained it would be providing content of the course material tailored to the “local and European context.”
It plans to offer courses in international relations, for which Fudan has a worldwide reputation, as well as economics, medicine, and engineering sciences.
Critics fear covert Chinese Communist influence in education. In 2019, Fudan University’s charter on the academic freedom of thought was replaced by a declaration of allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party.
Controversy also remains over who will construct China’s first university campus on EU soil. Under the deal, China was reportedly allowed to choose China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC) as the contractor.
FRAUD ALLEGATIONS
Since 2009, the CSCEC was several times blacklisted by the World Bank for corruption while the U.S. linked the company to the Chinese military.
In 2014, the firm was reportedly involved in constructing a $3.5-billion Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas. Three years later, the U.S. arm of the company was sued by the resort’s original owner for “massive fraud.”
The company’s manager submitted “sham billings for hundreds of millions of dollars” and diverted money to “other projects throughout the Americas and Caribbean,” the complaint said.
The CSCEC management in charge of a highway project in Pakistan was also accused of mismanaging that project’s funds. The company has denied the allegations.
If China succeeds in building the university campus, it will add to its growing educational and economic clout in Central and Eastern Europe.
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