He said scientific collaboration which undergoes peer review and public scrutiny, should not be viewed through a national security lens.
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However, in a letter in today’s The Herald, David Green from the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation, said the academic “fundamentally misunderstands the nature of the concern about university collaboration with China.”
The campaigner pointed to the former Chinese co-director of the Confucius Institute for Business and Communication, based within Heriot-Watt.
Prof Zhang Ping is, he claimed, a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), according to her Chinese biography, and was therefore “obliged, under CCP rules and Chinese law, to report on anti-CCP activity in the UK, and to fulfil the party’s programme, including ‘civil military fusion’, a doctrine which requires civilian and academic scientists to cooperate fully with the Chinese military.”
Mr Green said this put “Heriot-Watt’s Chinese student body at risk from surveillance and harassment”.
A spokesperson for the university rejected Mr Green’s objections, and said they were “unaware of any evidence to support the speculative assertions regarding the former director of the Confucius Centre”.
They added: “The University takes pride in its many significant global partnerships, which play a crucial role in advancing research efforts that benefit communities worldwide while fostering mutual cultural understanding. All our activities are conducted in full compliance with UK law and security policies.
“There are many examples of UK universities collaborating with China, including joint institutes, research partnerships, and student exchange programmes.
“Given that most Chinese university leaders operate under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), such collaborations are not out of the ordinary.
“It’s also important to note that recent discussions between UK and Scottish government ministers and China have focused on fostering positive relations, rather than isolating the UK from engagement and dialogue.”
The university said all of its partnerships “undergo a rigorous and comprehensive due diligence process.”
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While not as heavily reliant as some other Scottish universities, Heriot-Watt still makes around 10% of its fee income from Chinese students.
The university has a dedicated East Asia office in Beijing that focuses on “attracting the best students.”
China is already the university’s largest market for UK campuses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The row comes as China’s relationship with the UK comes under greater scrutiny following the revelation that Prince Andrew invited an alleged Chinese spy to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Windsor Castle.
Yang Tenbo — who is also known as Chris Yang — has been banned from the UK since last year.
Meanwhile, John Swinney has promised to examine whether more can be done to ensure Chinese surveillance cameras are not used in the public sector.
The use of Hikvision cameras by Scottish councils in CCTV and by Police Scotland was raised at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday.
The Times reported earlier this week that 22 councils continue to use devices made by Hikvision.
Tory MSP Liz Smith asked the First Minister to examine what decommissioning work is taking place, saying some councils have removed the devices while others have not.
She said Hikvision technology had been used by Chinese state security and intelligence law could compel companies like Hikvision to hand over information to the government.
Mr Swinney said: “Any decision on security cameras in local authorities is for councils to make.
“While local authorities may choose to follow the lead of the Scottish Government, where we have decommissioned all Hikvision cameras in the Scottish Government estate, they are under no obligation to do so.
“I will take away the points Liz Smith has raised with me and explore whether there is more the Government can do to perhaps align better the activities of all public authorities in Scotland to address the legitimate points which have been accepted by the Scottish Government.”