Chinese scientists embraced by U.S. colleges worked with Chinese military-linked firms

 A recent report highlights concerns about Chinese scientists working at American universities who have connections to Chinese military-affiliated companies. These findings reveal potential national security risks as many of these academics have collaborated with blacklisted firms that support the Chinese Communist Party's military initiatives.

1. Background of the Report: The American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a non-profit watchdog group, published a report identifying nearly two dozen Chinese academics at elite U. S. universities with ties to military-linked technology firms such as Huawei and iFlytek.

2. Concerns Raised: The report argues that these individuals pose national security risks due to their involvement in research that may benefit the Chinese military and their connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

3. Specific Case Studies:

• Guangyao Chen (Cornell University): He specializes in adversarial machine learning and has past collaborations with Huawei. He is seen as a high-risk individual because of his ties to Chinese military research.

• Cen Zhang (Georgia Tech): He worked with researchers tied to Huawei on security vulnerabilities in mobile devices, raising alarms given Huawei's implications in surveillance and state security.

• Xiaobin Zhao (University of Southern California): His research in quantum sensing is considered crucial for military technology, with previous connections to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, which is a major defense contractor.

• Bijuan Chen (Purdue University): Trained at a military research institute, she is regarded as a potential threat due to her continued involvement in defense-related research.

4. Funding and Support: Many of the accused academics have received grants from U. S. government agencies to conduct advanced research, which raises concerns about potential risks associated with government-funded technology transfers.

5. University Response: Notably, several universities, including Cornell, Georgia Tech, USC, and Purdue, did not respond to the requests for comments regarding the reports claims about their faculty members.

6. National Security Implications: The involvement of these academics in sensitive research areas raises issues about technology transfer that could enhance military capabilities in China and undermine U. S. national security interests.

The report underscores the potential risks associated with hiring Chinese academics linked to military entities, emphasizing the need for U. S. universities and government agencies to scrutinize affiliations and funding sources of their researchers. The importance of protecting national security must be balanced with the global exchange of ideas and academic collaboration. 

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/education/chinese-scientists-us-colleges-worked-huawei-and-other-chinese-military