Giovanni van Empel, chairman of the Student Executive Board of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta had just concluded his Friday prayers at campus three weeks ago, when the call came from the Youth and Sports Ministry.

The man asked Giovanni to get his passport ready to apply for a China visa the following week. "Well, it's so sudden. What's it for?" queried Giovanni. The caller only replied: "It's for visits to several universities there."

The ca