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Featured Stories March 23,2025 | Independence Journal Editorial Team

China Upset Over Lawmakers Taking Aim At Chinese Infiltration On US Campuses

Members of Congress are stepping up efforts to expose China’s access to sensitive research on U.S. campuses, and Beijing is bristling at the scrutiny. A letter sent by Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan has drawn a sharp rebuke from Chinese officials who insist their students are being unfairly targeted.

Moolenaar, who leads the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, contacted six top universities including Stanford and Carnegie Mellon with questions about Chinese student enrollment, research roles and funding sources. He warned that American schools are becoming a pipeline for the CCP to acquire technology with military uses.

China’s Foreign Ministry quickly pushed back. A spokesperson claimed the students contribute to the U.S. economy and demanded protections for what they called “legitimate rights.” The statement portrayed the congressional inquiry as politically motivated and discriminatory.

Republicans behind the investigation are not backing down. In addition to Moolenaar’s letter, Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia introduced legislation to bar Chinese nationals from obtaining student visas. Moore defended the proposal as necessary for national security and said he would not apologize for prioritizing American interests.

Concerns have grown in recent years as federal agencies uncovered ties between Chinese researchers and programs funded by the communist regime. At least 50 scholars employed at U.S. institutions have been identified in Chinese government talent programs, which seek to recruit foreign-trained experts to advance Beijing’s strategic goals.

Beijing has long viewed American universities as critical sources of knowledge and technological advancement. With many Chinese students paying full tuition, institutions often benefit financially — a point not lost on lawmakers who worry that money is blinding schools to security risks.

In January, the University of Michigan began dissolving a joint program with a Chinese university after five students were caught acting suspiciously near a military base. That incident added to the urgency in Congress.

 

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