A new report by the House Select Committee on China Competition and the Education and Workforce Committee has ignited concerns over potential threats to US national security stemming from academic collaborations with China. The report, released recently, accuses China of leveraging US research funding to advance its military capabilities.
The report details how hundreds of millions of dollars in federal research funding over the past decade have contributed to China’s military technological advancements. This funding, intended to bolster US defense and intelligence capabilities, has inadvertently provided China with access to valuable research data and expertise. The report points to specific research areas like hypersonics, directed energy, nuclear and high energy physics, artificial intelligence, and autonomy as potential areas where US research has aided Chinese military development.
The committees identified nearly 9,000 joint research publications co-authored by individuals affiliated with China’s defense and security apparatus. These publications, funded by the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Intelligence Community (IC), directly contribute to China’s defense industry advancements. Furthermore, the report alleges that China has deliberately sought partnerships with prestigious US universities under the guise of academic cooperation to transfer US technologies and expertise back to China.
The report highlights six case studies, including collaborations between Carnegie Institution’s Earth & Planets Laboratory, UCLA, and UC Berkeley with Chinese researchers. In these collaborations, US researchers unknowingly provided knowledge and expertise that helped China achieve advancements in areas like fourth-generation nuclear weapons technology, artificial intelligence, advanced lasers, graphene semiconductors, and robotics.
The report also points to the establishment of joint institutes like the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, and Sichuan University-Pittsburgh Institute. These institutes facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise, allowing Chinese scholars to access and utilize US research and expertise.
The report recommends a series of measures to address the concerns raised, including stricter guidelines for federally funded research, reduced collaborations between US researchers and Chinese universities with military ties, and increased oversight of foreign funding in US universities. The report also advocates for the passage of the Deterrent Act, which aims to enhance government oversight and reporting requirements related to foreign institutes in education.
In response to the report, Georgia Tech has dissolved its joint institute with Tianjin University, and Berkeley announced its intention to terminate its ownership of the Chinese institute. The committees criticized the Biden administration’s lack of enforcement regarding foreign gift reporting and expressed concerns about undisclosed foreign investments influencing US universities.
The report has sparked a debate on the balance between academic freedom and national security. Critics of the report argue that it could stifle academic collaborations and hinder scientific progress. However, proponents of the report argue that it is necessary to safeguard US national security and prevent the transfer of sensitive technologies to China.
