A UK university, Sheffield Hallam, paused Professor Laura Murphy’s research into forced labour in China after alleged pressure from Chinese authorities, according to Leigh Day Solicitors and FOI documents.

The university apologised, stressed commitment to academic freedom within the law, and said the pause reflected circumstances at the time, including professional indemnity insurance issues.

It also acknowledged that continuing publication and a presence in China were financially and operationally untenable, with insurance difficulties cited as a factor in halting the final research phase.

Enrollment trends showed a decline in Chinese students over time, with about 500 Chinese students in 2018 and a post-pandemic downturn, while revenue from Chinese and Hong Kong students reached £3.8 million in 2021/22.

By August 2022, criticism from China’s foreign ministry correlated with falling Chinese student numbers and recruitment concerns, even as the university earned £3.8 million from Chinese sources in the 2021/22 period.

The case connects to a related High Court defamation ruling involving a Hong Kong garment maker whose report on forced labour was deemed defamatory.

Murphy’s research traced supply chains in solar panels, car parts, and cotton for potential forced labour in Xinjiang, a claim China denies and government outlets call flawed and politically motivated.

Murphy’s reporting, beginning in 2021, documented alleged abuses in multiple supply chains and drew both praise and critical government reaction.

Funding disclosures showed backing from US humanities and aid agencies, while the Chinese Embassy dismissed the work as biased and lacking credible evidence.

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China’s embassy in London accused the university of releasing flawed Xinjiang reports and noted some authors’ funding from US agencies.

State-backed Chinese outlets framed the crackdown as a challenge to flawed research, accusing US funding and Western disinformation of undermining academic integrity.

The embassy’s statements risk damaging the university’s reputation with Chinese authorities.

Context shows HKC investigations illustrate how human rights research intersects with diplomacy, potentially affecting partnerships, recruitment, and operations.

The episode highlights broader tensions over UK universities’ autonomy and funding, especially reliance on international student income amid geopolitics and research integrity concerns.

The situation spurred debate on UK universities’ vulnerability to foreign pressure, with calls that financial pressures could threaten academic freedom.

Internal communications reveal the Chinese foreign ministry criticized the university in 2022, signaling mounting diplomatic pushback.

The study’s pause comes amid England’s free speech laws activation and the Office for Students’ stance against universities yielding to foreign pressure.

China has rejected accusations of forced labour, claiming Uyghur work programmes are poverty alleviation efforts.

Earlier, the university abandoned a planned Uyghur-forced labour report on critical minerals and returned related funding; later, that research was published by GRC in June.

Management anticipated negative recruitment impacts for 2023/24 and warned of further declines if tensions persisted, illustrating chilling effects on academic freedom amid geopolitics.

The government condemned foreign intimidation of UK academics and signaled support from the Dept for Education, with the National Security Act expanding powers to counter such threats.

Britain warned foreign states against intimidating UK scholars, as discussions with China’s education ministry occurred and a Foreign Secretary warned of foreign interference.

The UK government stated it would not tolerate attempts by foreign states to harass academics in the UK.

Operational disruptions included the August 2022 shutdown of Sheffield Hallam’s English language testing site in China, complicating recruitment.

That disruption affected enrollment processes as the university navigated recruitment hurdles.

As of 2024/25, Sheffield Hallam’s Chinese international student presence stood at 73 out of 4,204 international students.

BBC reporting indicated the university reassessed in early 2025 after a career break, citing insurance and duty-of-care concerns for pausing the work.

Murphy’s team continues publishing on forced labour in supply chains, with work available on the university site.

The Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice has produced multiple reports detailing the Chinese government’s treatment of Uyghurs and related supply-chain issues.

The Tribune places the story in a broader UK university context of pressure from China on research topics and ongoing debates about academic freedom and market forces.

In 2024–25, Sheffield Hallam faced defamation proceedings and insurance constraints, leading to the termination of the research unit and shelving of final results.

Murphy has received funding from US agencies including NEH, DOJ, USAID, and the State Department for related work.

Murphy’s solicitor argued that academic freedom was unlawfully restricted amid foreign state pressure and concerns over commercial interests.

Murphy’s team produced a pivotal 2021 report on forced labour in the solar panel industry, followed by studies on car parts and clothing highlighting potential abuses.

Documents claim the university told the National Security Service it would not publish a final phase, after which pressure reportedly eased for a period.