China exploited Energy Department to divert research to its own military, congressional report warns

 A report by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party reveals that China is using U. S. Department of Energy research to enhance its military technology. The committee found that numerous American researchers have collaborated with Chinese institutions, some with ties to the Chinese military.

1. Research Collaboration:

• The committee's investigation identified approximately 4,350 research papers published between June 2023 and June 2025 that received funding from the U. S. Department of Energy and involved partnerships with Chinese entities.

• About half of these papers were linked to China's defense sector.

2. Concerns Raised:

• The committee chair, John Moolenaar, expressed alarm over the lack of security measures by the Department of Energy, allowing taxpayer-funded research to be misused for China's military growth.

• Moolenaar highlighted the necessity for the Department to ensure that financial support does not lead to the advancement of competitors like China.

3. Specific Institutions Involved:

• The research partnerships included entities like the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics and the People’s Liberation Army’s National University of Defense Technology, which have direct links to China’s military programs.

• These institutions have been noted for involvement in human rights violations and military technology development.

4. Notable Case:

• A report mentions Wendy Mao, a Stanford University professor, who has collaborated with a Chinese institute tied to nuclear research. Although her work doesn't directly deal with military applications, the techniques involved could theoretically support nuclear weapons research.

5. Response from Chinese Officials:

• The Chinese Embassy in the U. S. has dismissed the committee's accusations as political smear tactics and argued that accusations about national security are misused to inhibit scientific collaboration.

6. Recruitment of U. S. Researchers:

• Recent testimonies at a congressional hearing indicated that China continues to recruit U. S.-based researchers despite strained relations and increased monitoring.

• Officials from U. S. science agencies stressed the need for heightened security to protect research from being compromised.

7. Committee Recommendations:

• The committee advocates for a damage assessment from the Department of Energy on the research funded through these potentially compromised partnerships.

• Suggestions also include the formation of a new federal agency to oversee federally funded research, focusing on security and eliminating redundancy across grant-making entities.

The report underscores significant vulnerabilities in U. S. research funding and collaboration policies with China, emphasizing the imperative for enhanced protective measures to safeguard taxpayer investments and national security. The findings raise critical questions about the ethics and security of international research partnerships, especially those involving entities linked to military operations.

https://justthenews.com/government/congress/china-exploited-department-energy-divert-research-its-own-technology-military