20 Students from Harbin Engineering University Punished for 'Climbing the Wall'

20 Students from Harbin Engineering University Punished for 'Climbing the Wall' (Video Screenshot)

[People News] A recent disciplinary notice from the School of Mathematics and Science at Harbin Engineering University announced that 20 undergraduate and graduate students received warnings for accessing foreign networks using VPNs and other methods. Subsequent chat screenshots suggested that these punishments were linked to reports made during the competition for graduate school recommendation quotas.

According to Radio Free Asia, a notice signed by the Student Work Office of the School of Mathematics and Science, dated September 20, indicated that following feedback from 'higher authorities' and verification by the college, 7 undergraduates and 13 graduate students used their personal campus network accounts to access foreign networks through VPNs and other 'irregular channels' between September 18 and 19. Their actions were recorded by the cybersecurity monitoring system. The notice did not specify which websites the students accessed, nor did it clarify how the higher authorities obtained this information.

20 Students from Harbin Engineering University Punished for 'Climbing the Wall'

20 Students from Harbin Engineering University Punished for 'Climbing the Wall' (Video Screenshot)

The notice stated that these 20 individuals violated relevant regulations regarding international internet management and school governance. Since this was their first violation and no harmful information dissemination, illegal profit-making, or other serious consequences were identified, the college decided to issue a warning. The notice urged the punished students to reflect seriously and stated that if similar behavior occurs again in the future, it will be dealt with strictly according to school discipline and regulations.

Students 'Climbing the Wall' in an Attempt to Seek the Truth.

Mr. Lu, an internet researcher from Jiangsu, mentioned in an interview with Radio Free Asia on Tuesday (29th) that he had not heard of university students being collectively warned simply for 'climbing the wall'. 'Some of the more avant-garde young people I know use this (VPN). This is because the news available to Chinese people is quite restricted, and they want to uncover the truth about certain issues. Only by climbing the wall can they access information that differs from the official narrative and is more authentic.'

The notice referenced relevant international internet management regulations as well as the school's student management and campus network management rules, concluding that the students' actions constituted violations. The school also indicated that all 20 individuals were first-time offenders, and no evidence was found that they spread harmful information, profited illegally, or caused other serious consequences; thus, they received a warning. Should similar behavior occur again, the college will take serious disciplinary action in accordance with school rules and regulations.

Additionally, the notice stipulated that students with research or study needs should access overseas academic resources through the school's library database and approved external access systems; students are prohibited from lending their campus network accounts and must take responsibility for their online activities associated with these accounts.

Mr. Lu explained that Chinese individuals climb the wall to access overseas websites for three main reasons: first, to understand the true state of the outside world, compare it with the situation in China, and form their own judgments; second, to see how events happening domestically are reported internationally; and third, to play games and browse foreign consumer information.

He revealed that dissidents, rights activists, petitioners, or scholars show a keen interest in reports from media outlets like Radio Free Asia: 'Individuals with political inclinations tend to watch these (overseas) media, and regular petitioners will certainly do so. Once they bypass the Great Firewall to access overseas content, their perceptions will gradually shift. Previously, petitioners believed that grassroots officials in China were corrupt while higher-level officials were good, but accessing information from outside will challenge that belief. They will start watching Radio Free Asia and New Tang Dynasty Television.'

Zhejiang University has issued a warning to students against bypassing internet restrictions.

Mr. Liu, an employee at a university in Hangzhou, informed reporters that the institution has recently been advising students not to circumvent internet restrictions: 'Recently, many university counselors have been sending out notifications in group chats, warning students against breaking the firewall. If caught, they will face disciplinary action, and those with serious violations may be expelled from the university.'

Harbin Engineering University, which has a military background, is involved in this notification concerning students from the School of Mathematical Sciences. The document did not specify their research areas, nor did it indicate that they leaked information while accessing overseas networks. It remains unclear whether the university will provide further details regarding internet monitoring, sources of information, and disciplinary procedures.

Concerns about whistleblowing arise from poor graduate school rankings.

Screenshots of conversations circulating alongside the notification suggest that one student reported another for 'breaking the firewall' because they ranked one position lower in the graduate school application process. Another screenshot submitted shows someone inquiring whether they can report a graduate school competitor who uses a VPN and shares software with others, and whether they can do so anonymously.

In this context, Mr. Wang, a netizen familiar with the situation, informed reporters that 20 students were reported by a female student: "A girl was taking the postgraduate entrance exam, and since she was ranked lower, she reported the students ahead of her, claiming they were using VPN software to circumvent restrictions." 

There have been prior incidents in Chinese universities where students reported teachers, resulting in disciplinary actions against the educators. In 2019, Associate Professor Tang Yun from Chongqing Normal University was reported by students for his remarks in class, accused of "inciting subversion of state power." The university subsequently revoked his teaching qualifications, demoted his position, suspended his teaching duties, and reassigned him to work in the school library until his retirement.
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