In August 2016, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a 59 page report on the performance of US universities in China. The 12 American universities participating in the report stated that the federal Chinese government, as well as provincial governments and partner universities, contributed funds for construction, land, and campus facilities. These American universities stated that they generally had academic freedom and agreements to protect said freedom. Additionally, universities with independent legal status as considered by the Chinese government tended to have greater academic freedom than others in the report. The full report can be accessed here.
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Until CGTN/RUC share more information about their survey methodology, these surveys are little more than public opinion propaganda.