Hungarian demonstrators took to the streets of Budapest to protest against the Government’s plans of building a satellite campus of Shanghai’s Fudan University in the city
Thousands of Hungarian demonstrators took to the streets of Budapest on Saturday, i.e., June 5, 2021 to protest against the Hungarian Government’s plans of building a satellite campus of Shanghai’s Fudan University in the city.
The Government of Hungary had signed an agreement with the Fudan University at a site in Budapest where previously a dormitory village for Hungarian students was planned.
The Fudan campus will cost more than U.S. $ 15 billion which will be funded through Chinese commercial loan. The construct contract will mainly be given to Chinese contractors.
It is estimated that more than 10,000 people marched to the Hungarian Parliament, despite Government restrictions on demonstrations, indicating how controversial the project has become. A lot of them carried banners which read, “treason”.
The Liberal opponents of nationalist Prime Minister – Viktor Orban have accused him of cozying up with the Chinese Government and are afraid that the campus could undercut the quality of higher education and help Beijing increase its influence in Hungary and the European Union (E.U.)
A 22-year-old student named Patrick said during the march, “I do not agree with our country’s strengthening feudal relationship with China.” He said that the funds should be used to improve Hungarian Universities instead of building a Chinese one.
Another student, Szonja Radics said, “Orban and [his right-wing party] Fidesz portray themselves as anti-communists, but in reality, the communists are their friends.”
However, the Government believes that Fudan is a world-class institution and the Chinese campus in Budapest would allow students to learn from the best institution. Hungarian media quoted the Deputy Government Minister – Tamas Schanda, who said that the protest is completely meaningless.
There are also concerns over the high costs of the project and a lack of transparency. The Mayor of Budapest – Gergely Karacsony, has publicly opposed the plan. In retaliation, he announced that streets near the planned campus would be renamed after prominent human rights causes sensitive to the Chinese government. While one street will be named after the Dalai Lama, the other will be called “Uyghur Martyrs’ Road”. Two other roads will be named after the Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters and a Catholic Bishop who was jailed in China.
The Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China – Wang Wenbin said that Hungarian opposition is trying to leverage this opportunity to create unrest in the country and hinder the relations between China and Hungary.
While Orban has developed good relations with China and Russia, the E.U. has accused Hungary of breaching the rule of law. The rule of law guarantees fundamental rights and values, allows the application of EU law, and supports an investment-friendly business environment. It is one of the fundamental values upon which the EU is based on.
The Governments has received backlashes for putting the courts and judges, media and academics, non-government organizations and rights groups under direct Government control. Orban is not opened to having a parallel society or open society or a mixed-up culture.
