American universities allegedly aiding Chinese military scientists through government funds, according to a recently issued committee report.
In recent years, a growing concern has emerged regarding the number of Chinese nationals with ties to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) being educated at American universities. This issue has sparked debates and actions, with some universities taking steps to unwind partnerships with Chinese institutions. One such instance is the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, which announced the termination of dozens of agreements, including its flagship joint engineering institute with Zhejiang University. Lawmakers commended Illinois for 'leading by example' by unwinding these partnerships. Zhejiang University, it should be noted, has defense labs and ties to Chinese intelligence. The University of Maryland has also come under scrutiny. More than 25% of Chinese students in fall 2024 were involved in federally funded research. However, the university admitted it does not track what research they conduct. This lack of transparency has raised concerns among lawmakers. The House Select Committee on China has recommended codifying a 2020 executive order signed by President Donald Trump into law. This order aimed to tighten visa screening and bar Chinese nationals from participating in U.S. government-funded research labs. Other universities, such as UC Berkeley, Georgia Tech, and the University of Michigan, have also been moving to unwind partnerships with Chinese institutions following congressional scrutiny. However, specific universities are not named in the available search results. The issue of Chinese students engaging in biopathogen cases, spying, and gaining access to U.S. military installations is not theoretical. Recent prosecutions have highlighted this problem. For instance, over 400 Chinese nationals at one of the six universities investigated were conducting federally funded research in sensitive fields like nuclear engineering and computer science. Purdue University has also been under scrutiny. Purdue faculty members were found to be on sabbatical in China, including two at universities overseen by Beijing's defense ministry and another at a State Key Laboratory. Purdue University hosted 16 visiting faculty from Chinese universities in sensitive departments such as electrical engineering and computer science. Chinese President Xi Jinping is overseeing his country's bid to topple the U.S. in the AI race. Institutions like Beihang University, which has been on the U.S. Entity List since 2001, have nine major defense labs and 'adheres to Xi Jinping Thought.' Beihang students were found at every U.S. university surveyed. It's also worth noting that Chinese nationals made up more than 20 percent of the Ph.D. population at one school but contributed just 0.2 percent of tuition revenue. This raises questions about the true motivations behind these students' presence at American universities. Rep. Mike Lawler, R-NY, has stated that China should not be in control of the prescription drug industry. This sentiment echoes the broader concern that the close ties between Chinese students and military-linked research could potentially pose a significant risk to U.S. national security. As the relationship between the U.S. and China continues to evolve, the scrutiny of partnerships between American universities and Chinese institutions is likely to remain a hot topic. The House Select Committee on China's recommendations, if enacted, could mark a significant shift in how these partnerships are managed in the future.
