Today in Focus How China is trying to silence UK academics
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Nov 12, 2025 Laura Murphy, a human rights academic specializing in Uyghur issues, and Amy Hawkins, a senior China correspondent for The Guardian, delve into the alarming pressures faced by UK universities from China. They discuss Laura's groundbreaking research on forced labor in Xinjiang and the subsequent efforts by Chinese authorities to silence her findings. The conversation highlights the economic dependencies of UK universities on Chinese student enrollment and the pervasive climate of self-censorship that stifles academic freedom in response to potential backlash.
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Two Decades Investigating Forced Labour
- Laura Murphy spent 20 years exposing forced labour and investigating Uyghur exploitation in China.
- Her work traced supply chains and flagged Western companies sourcing goods linked to Uyghur labour.
Xinjiang Labour Reaches Western Supply Chains
- Laura Murphy found state-imposed forced labour in Xinjiang tied to mining, cotton and manufacturing exports.
- These goods include textiles, electronics and toys that reach UK and US markets.
Research Forced Real Supply-Chain Shifts
- Murphy's research prompted industry changes, notably reducing Uyghur-region polysilicon from 45% to about 25% globally.
- Companies and trade groups used her reports to improve due diligence and reroute supply chains.