As stated by one academic economist, "Academics who study China . . . habitually please the Chinese Communist Party, sometimes consciously, and often unconsciously . . . the incentives for academics all go one way: one does not upset the Party."
One of the punitive tools that the Chinese government may employ to intimidate foreign academics is the denial of visas to enter China to conduct research. Although the PRC will not officially acknowledge doing so, elements within the Chinese government have clearly placed a number of foreign academics on a visa denial "blacklist" due to their publishing on topics that hit a nerve with Beijing.
Ah yes, they conform what they say to maintain "access" in their field. This is bad whether it is climate research, reporting from Saddam's Baghdad, or being an area specialist on China.
This is another reason that I approach broad recommendations from renowned specialists with skepticism even as I appreciate their knowledge of the details of their subject of study.
Bias with supporting facts can just be well-footnoted bias.
