American universities are reportedly educating thousands of Chinese students with connections to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), as revealed in a recent report from the China Committee. The investigation focused on six universities and discovered over 400 Chinese nationals engaged in federally funded research in sensitive areas, including nuclear engineering and computer science. This raises serious questions about national security.
The Biden administration’s inaction on an executive order from the Trump administration, which aimed to restrict Chinese nationals tied to military-related research, is notable. According to the report, the rationale for that order hinged on the belief that Chinese authorities exploit postgraduate students as intelligence gatherers.
At one university, it was found that half of the Chinese doctoral candidates were linked to federally funded research projects. Across the surveyed schools, which included renowned institutions such as Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, every university admitted students from top Chinese military and defense research academies. This includes the Seven Sons of National Defense, institutions specifically focused on military advancement.
In a response to these concerns, the University of Southern California asserted that it already employs extensive measures to protect national security. “USC already maintains strong safeguards to protect national security,” the university stated. These safeguards involve thorough reviews of foreign financial interests and prohibiting participation in foreign talent programs deemed restricted. However, critics question the adequacy of these measures given the risks posed by connections to the Chinese military.
Noteworthy findings included that several of these universities maintain extensive ties with elite Chinese institutions such as Beihang University and Harbin Institute of Technology. Beihang University, which has been under U.S. scrutiny since 2001, houses nine major defense labs and operates under principles outlined by Xi Jinping. Students from Beihang were found in all U.S. universities surveyed. Meanwhile, Harbin Engineering University, initially a PLA military institute, is represented at 83% of the surveyed institutions.
The University of Maryland reported that over 25% of its Chinese student population was involved in federally funded research, yet the university admitted it does not track what this research entails. This lack of oversight can create gaps in understanding the implications of these students’ work.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign faced scrutiny for its partnerships with Chinese institutions like Zhejiang University, which possesses defense capabilities and intelligence ties. The university has since decided to terminate several agreements, including its joint engineering institute with Zhejiang and other arrangements that favored Chinese students’ admissions into graduate programs.
Legislators have highlighted the importance of reforming these practices. They recommend solidifying protections established by Trump’s executive order into law, enhancing visa screening processes, and disallowing Chinese nationals from contributing to U.S. government-funded research efforts. Without these changes, the report warns, American universities risk training individuals for the benefit of the PLA rather than the U.S.
Concerns over espionage are not merely hypothetical. Recent prosecutions involving Chinese students underscore these risks. In June, two students at the University of Michigan faced charges connected to biopathogens. Following incidents where other Chinese students were caught attempting to breach military installations, the need for comprehensive oversight becomes even clearer.
A trend is emerging where several American universities, including UC Berkeley and Georgia Tech, are unwinding partnerships with Chinese institutions amid intensified legislative scrutiny. These steps send a message about the potential risks of foreign collaborations in sensitive academic fields.
The report serves as a critical reminder of the implications of foreign student admissions and research collaborations. It highlights the pressing need for vigilance in protecting national security and ensuring that American educational spaces do not facilitate arrangements that could benefit foreign military interests.
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