“Students abroad have many opportunities to encounter foreign culture, so authorities constantly worry they might defect,” the source noted. “The Ministry of State Security considers these students ‘high-value state assets’ representing significant party investment and is determined to prevent any escapes.”
“Under the policy changes, state security agents will conduct regular face-to-face interviews with families of students who fled abroad and report their activities,” the source explained. “They plan to strengthen systems to monitor and prevent these families from contacting the outside world.”
The ministry will also introduce a “mutual indirect evaluation” system conducted monthly for students considered flight risks. These evaluations, submitted twice monthly by other students or embassy staff, will assess the subject’s academic performance, ideological commitment, statements, and behavior.
The system regularly rotates subjects and evaluators while punishing false reports, creating an evaluation structure that prevents collusion among students.