Universities threat as city sparks diplomatic row with China

Plus: Sports clubs facing 'chronic' pitch shortage; ajjoerj; and city businesses' election message

The Edinburgh Tourist Action Group (ETAG) has been running a China Ready campaign to help promote the Capital to Chinese visitors. Pic: ETAG

Student visas at risk as city council upsets China

China is threatening to block visas for all Chinese students studying in Scotland in a major diplomatic row with the city council.

City leaders have agreed to sign a formal friendship agreement with the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan to mark the long and growing cultural, scientific and educational links between the two.

However, long-standing Chinese foreign policy takes a strong line against any formal recognition of the authorities in Taiwan. If Edinburgh goes ahead with signing the agreement, the Chinese Consul General in Scotland - who is based in Murrayfield - has warned of “serious consequences” to relationships between Scotland and China. It is understood this is likely to mean the blocking of all visas for students studying in universities across Scotland, not just in Edinburgh.

Tourism and business leaders have also raised concerns the fall out of the diplomatic row could damage trade between the two countries and lead to a drop in Chinese visitors to Scotland.

Why is China so upset? The One China policy has been a central part of China’s international relations for decades, dating back to the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. China views the island of Taiwan as a breakaway province that will be unified with the mainland one day. It insists any country which wants diplomatic relations with mainland China must not recognise the authorities in Taiwan. In practice, it has turned a blind eye to trade and cultural relations for many years, but draws a line at formal recognition.

Why sign an agreement with Taiwan? Edinburgh has built strong relationships with the city of Kaohsiung, largely through cultural exchanges and scientific work. Signing a memorandum with the city is intended to help build partnerships covering culture and festivals, sustainability, digital innovation, trade and investment. In the short term, £1.5m in research grants is on offer from the Taiwan Institute for Information Industry.

Why not? Given around 5,000 Chinese students attend the University of Edinburgh alone, with more studying at other city universities, the potential disruption - and loss of income - to the city’s higher education sector from a block on visas is huge. A breakdown in diplomatic relations is also likely to see a fall in the number of Chinese tourists - who are among the highest spending international visitors to the city - and harm Scotland’s significant trade links with the country.

Who is against it? It would almost be quicker to say who isn’t against it. The city council has received letters urging caution or a rethink from Edinburgh Airport; the city’s Chamber of Commerce; Essential Edinburgh, the management company which oversees the city centre Business Improvement District; the University of Edinburgh; the Edinburgh Hotels Association; and the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, which brings together accommodation and transport providers, visitor attractions and others with a stake in the visitor industry across the Capital.

What happens next? Councillors are due to vote on Thursday on whether to go ahead with signing the formal agreement with Kaohsiung or perhaps seek a diplomatic solution that avoids provoking the wrath of China.

YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING

THE DOCTOR AND THE DETECTIVE: Rebus author Ian Rankin and Dr Who star Ncuti Gatwa after hoping to see their BBC shows commissioned again after their latest series finished their runs. Rankin said on X, formerly Twitter, that he and screenwriter Gregory Burke are working on new ideas after the rave reviews for the latest incarnation of his Edinburgh detective, but is awaiting a decision from the BBC. Meanwhile, Dr Who showrunner Russel T Davies is working on new scripts as he and the BBC await a decision from Disney on whether it will renew the reported $100m deal it signed for two series starring the actor who grew up in Edinburgh. He has already filmed series two after series one proved a hit with younger viewers despite some lukewarm reviews and lower ratings with older audiences.

SPORTS PITCH CRISIS: Grassroots sports teams including one of the city’s most successful youth teams are facing a “chronic shortage of access to suitable pitches” in the west of the city, according to SFA and city council assessments. Several Scotland internationals started out at Salvesen Community Football Club including Gary McKay, Dave Bowman and Garry O’Connor, but the club has been homeless since their former base was demolished to make way for the Forrester High and St Augustine High Schools joint campus. Now local councillor Edward Thornley is urging the city council to lease the rundown 2G artificial pitch at the campus to the club in a move which would enable it to secure SFA funding to upgrade it to 3G.

PRIDE OF EDINBURGH: Organisers of Edinburgh Pride at the weekend got their wish as a large, colourful turnout from Scotland’s LGBT community kicked off with a march from the Scottish Parliament, through the Old Town and ending at The Pride Edinburgh Festival Village at the EUSA complex. Acts including Atomic Kitten and X Factor star Amelia Lily also performed.

CANADA BOUND: Edinburgh Airport’s transatlantic offering continues to grow. WestJet's new route between the Scottish capital and the Nova Scotia port of Halifax is the latest addition. The service will run three days per week from now until September 4, operated on a Boeing 737.

COLOGNE RIDE: Congratulations to Alex Schweitzer-Thompson and his team of cyclists who completed their 300-mile ride from Edinburgh to Cologne in time for Scotland’s big game in the Euros. The ride has raised vital funds for Brain Tumour Research in memory of Alex’s late father Alan, a fit and healthy 71-year-old who loved playing and watching football before falling ill before Christmas.

FESTIVAL OPENER: Storytelling, fire and video projections of Edinburgh including its underground vaults will feature in this year’s Edinburgh International Festival opening event. Unlike in previous years, entry to Where to Begin in the grounds of George Heriot’s School - which are overlooked by Edinburgh Castle - will not have free entry, with tickets costing £15. More than 3,000 tickets will be available for the after-dark show on 2, 3 and 4 August.

CINEMA CAMPAIGN: The conservation architects working on the redevelopment of Jenners, Glasgow-based Loader Monteith, have been hired to draw up plans for the former George Cinema in Portobello. The Friends of the George are hoping to buy the crumbling art deco building from its housing develop owner and restore it as a working cinema. The campaign is being backed financially by the Architectural Heritage Fund, the Scottish Land Fund and the best-selling author VE Schwab.

THE BUSINESS

Chamber leaves election hopefuls in no doubt on business view

Future Edinburgh’s MPs have been made aware of what the Capital’s businesses expect from policy-makers at Westminster. The Capital’s Chamber of Commerce has written to every candidate who is standing in the city wards in the General Election on 4 July.  

In terms of the policy environment, the letter highlights that the combination of a new First Minister at Holyrood and an election at Westminister provides a unique opportunity for governments to work more closely together – with a pressing need to re-set relationships between different levels of government if economic growth is to be delivered.

Chief Executive Liz McAreavey says in the letter: “Feedback from members reveals a growing frustration with the current blame culture between different elements of government – this needs to fundamentally change to enable the kind of collaborative effort required to grow our economy.”

The letter also stresses that economic growth should be a top priority, with a growing economy and its vital tax revenues the only way to support wellbeing ambitions and address inequalities and societal issues. “We should therefore not hide our economic ambitions, but encourage them and nurture them, for the ultimate benefit of all.”

Some specific policy asks are also included. The need to lower VAT for Hospitality – the UK has one of Europe’s highest rates – would deliver higher growth, boost employment and help lower consumer prices, according to data produced by the sector. Additional sales of £7.7 billion over the next ten years and a net gain for the Treasury of £4.6 billion based on a reduced rate of 12.5%.

Similarly, re-introducing tax-free shopping – essentially refunding VAT for overseas visitors – is something that the Chamber network has campaigned for. The Association for International Retail maintains the decision to end tax free shopping has seen a £1.5 billion spending loss as the UK misses out on a potential £10 billion market.

The letter also looks to a future UK Government to transform the National Grid to provide sufficient network capacity and flexibility to deliver energy needs fit for Net Zero and set out a strategy for the role of hydrogen in the UK’s energy future.

SURFING BOSS: The Lost Shore Surf Resort, due to open at Ratho in the Autumn, has appointed Victoria Gosling OBE as a new non-executive director. Ms Gosling is chair of GB Surfing and on the board of the British Olympic Association

Victoria Gosling: Pic LinkedIn

WATER SAVING: Edinburgh-based Business Stream has helped Scotland’s public sector make these significant savings - of almost £2.5 million. The firm specialises in leak detection, water efficiency and smart monitoring services, which have collectively reduced the public sector’s energy consumption by 2,371,941 kg CO2e.

AI SUCCESS: City-based Wordsmith has raised $5m in funding to accelerate hiring in Scotland and the US, as well as launch its core product to the wider market. The company has developed an artificial intelligence-powered legal assistance platform to help solve a critical problem faced by legal teams: the overwhelming volume of routine tasks that leave lawyers struggling to keep up with the demands of the business.

GREEN COLLAR PROBLEM: A lack of skilled ‘green collar’ construction workers threatens to derail the UK’s decarbonisation plans and is seeing in-demand trades command soaring annual salaries. Insulation specialists and solar and heat pump installers are on the front line of the energy transition and are now paid at least twice the earnings of general construction labourers, according to a new report by Turner & Townsend, the global professional services company.

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT

GAME ON: From Sonic the Hedgehog to Super Mario, explore the largest interactive exhibition of the history and the culture of video games at the National Museum of Scotland. The hugely popular exhibition returns 20 years after coming to Edinburgh for its first staging outside of the Barbican in London where it was conceived. Game On has evolved and changed since then, attracting more than five million visitors in 24 cities around the world. From Saturday until 3 November. Entry for non-museum members costs £14 for adults, £10 for children aged 5-15. Under-5s go free.

SUMMER NIGHTS: Grease is the word at the Edinburgh Playhouse as the musical returns from Tuesday until Saturday. Tickets start from £23.50 plus a £3.95 booking fee.

BONGO’S BINGO: Experience the global phenomena that is Bongo’s Bingo at the 02 Academy on Saturday. Expect dance-offs, sing-a-longs and the chance to win quirky prizes like a Henry Hoover in a night of unadulterated nostalgia at the original ‘rave bingo’.

QUICK BITES

OFF TO A FLIER: Edinburgh airport has announced its expanding food and drink choice for passengers. Icons is a new sports bar, Seoul Bird will serve Korean fried chicken, gourmet burgers and rice bowls, and PizzaExpress is a well-known high street pizzeria. Work will begin later this year with the new outlets opening in 2025.

GEM OF AN AWARD: The much-awarded Radhuni Indian restaurant in Loanhead, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, has won the ‘Hidden Gem’ category for the Edinburgh, Fife and East Scotland region in the Scotsman newspaper’s Scran Awards – the latest in a long line of awards for the restaurant.