Lord Patten has enjoyed a distinguished career. The 80-year-old peerA member of the House of Lords, one of the two houses that makes up the UK parliament. has chaired the Conservative party and governed Hong Kong. He has served as chancellor of the University of Oxford for the past 21 years. Some would rest on their laurels, and go gently into the night. But not Patten.

In a retirement interview with The Telegraph, he sent a warning to the new government. He said: "when it comes to Chinese students... we actually have to do our part so that we don't [see] the erosion of our values in higher educationEducation after you leave school - such as at a university. ." 

Over 150,000 Chinese students currently attend university in Britain. Universities woo them because they can charge higher fees to international students.¹ Their fees currently contribute around £5.9bn to UK university budgets.²

But Patten thinks that Chinese students pose a threat to the values that universities should uphold. The UK government requires educational institutions to uphold "fundamental British values". As of 2018, these values include the rule of law, individual liberty, democracy and the mutual respect, tolerance and understanding of different faiths and beliefs.

Universities should, for example, encourage students to respect and participate in democracy, and teach them to have the freedom to make their own choices and do what they want.

According to Patten's view, pressure from China stops British universities from teaching these values. They deliberately ignore China's record on human rights and lack of freedom, he asserts. Earlier this year, University College London lecturer Michelle Shipworth was stopped from teaching a course after a slideshow she included mentioned slavery in China.

Universities do this because they worry the Chinese government will restrict student numbers and so take away a lucrative source of income. 

There is evidence that the CCPThe Chinese Communist Party, China's ruling party. is watching. Last year, a UK parliamentary committee found that China had tried to "monitor and control Chinese student's behaviour" at universities. This March, former minister Ian Duncan Smith said: "a lot of Chinese students are scared about speaking out because they are monitored".

One way to stop this erosion of values could be a cap on student numbers from China. If fewer Chinese students studied in Britain, perhaps the Chinese government would care less to interfere in their education. And this might lower the pressure on universities to ignore British values.

Yet this could be counter-productive. A cap would just mean fewer Chinese students were able to study in a country outside the full control of their government. Even if China interferes in UK education, it has far less control here than at home. At least international students in Britain might absorb some British values.

Students study to expand their knowledge. The Ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes said: "The foundation of every state is the education of its youth." Chinese students in Britain might grow up to change China into a country that more resembles Patten's values.

Should there be a cap?

Yes: If British education is to continue to promote freedom, democracy and the rule of law, it cannot allow the Chinese government to influence teaching. And the best way to do that is to stop them caring.

No: Chinese students should not be penalised for the actions of their government. If Patten wants to stamp out CCP interference, he should pressure Britain to take a firmer stance on academic freedom.

Or... Patten's stance assumes that British values are better than Chinese ones. But this is just an opinion, not a fact. There might be things that Britain could - and should - learn from China.