Voice of America (VOA) reported that two scholars from the Beijing Unirule Institute of Economics were prevented from leaving China to attend a research discussion on “China’s 40 years of reform and opening up” which the Unirule Institute of Economics and the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies held jointly. The head of the Unirule Institute of Economics told VOA that he attends academic exchange activities every year and traveled overseas just a few months ago. However, on November 1, he was told, while waiting at the Beijing Airport, that he could not to leave the country because it would “endanger national security.” Another scholar was also stopped at the airport but was not given a reason. Close to 20 scholars were invited to the forum. Some have left but a few people “changed their minds” and decided not to attend. This academic event was held on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Source: Voice of America, November 8, 2018
https://www.voachinese.com/a/4646440.html