Congress Turns Up Heat On China As Lawmakers Demand Transparency From US Universities
Congress is signaling a tougher approach to the Chinese Communist Party, and Beijing is not happy about it. A recent letter from Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan to top U.S. universities is the latest move aimed at cracking down on Chinese influence in American research institutions.
The letter, sent to six high-profile schools including Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, asked for detailed breakdowns of Chinese student enrollment, funding sources and research activities. Moolenaar warned that China has built a pipeline into U.S. campuses that exposes sensitive technologies to foreign actors with military ties.
Looks like China's Thousand Talents Plan is finally getting some much needed scrutiny.
"Purdue was one of six universities targeted this week by a U.S. House Select Committee’s demands to answer what campuses are doing to deal with what it called national security risks involved… pic.twitter.com/abZT1woxWH
— Paul D. Thacker (@thackerpd) March 23, 2025
🇺🇸 China wants Congress to stop snooping on its students?
Let’s get real—our student visa system is a Trojan horse for Beijing!
We’re letting them infiltrate our universities, gather intel, and undermine our values.
Enough is enough!
We stand … https://t.co/bI6Pf8aLRw
— NahBabyNah (@NahBabyNah) March 23, 2025
China’s Foreign Ministry wasted no time blasting the effort. Spokesperson Mao Ning accused the U.S. of “overstretching” national security and called the requests discriminatory. She claimed Chinese students have boosted America’s economy and innovation and demanded Washington back off.
How could CCP manipulate the overseas Chinese students and scholars using National Scholarship?
• How does CCP infiltrate the academic fields in 🇺🇸, to steal the intellectual properties, and corrupt the scientists?
• China Scholarship Council select
candidates who are loyal to… pic.twitter.com/T9RwCoGZjC— Dr. Li-Meng YAN (@DrLiMengYAN1) June 3, 2023
“Over 60 colleges and universities have been warned… of Chinese nationals infiltrating the American university system… to share intelligence with the foreign superpower.”
In February, @NewsNation reported on the growing threat of CCP espionage to US colleges and universities. pic.twitter.com/tpgIAyeFff
— Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (@committeeonccp) May 31, 2023
Despite Beijing’s objections, concern about Chinese espionage is not new. Federal authorities have documented extensive efforts by China to recruit researchers in American labs, with some participants secretly tied to talent programs run by the Chinese regime. Several individuals linked to these programs have faced criminal charges for concealing their affiliations.
The tip of the iceberg of the CCP’s infiltration in American universities: Georgia Tech received at least $250 million from Communist China for the development of sensitive technologies, yet never reported it! pic.twitter.com/PMhgoVPDPD
— NFSC Speaks (@NFSCSpeak) May 12, 2024
The Republican lawmaker referenced five former University of Michigan students who graduated in May as part of a joint program with Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China and were accused of spying on the U.S. military.
“This cannot continue.” pic.twitter.com/XT1qjLfePl
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 13, 2025
The push from Congress didn’t stop with Moolenaar’s letter. Rep. Riley Moore of West Virginia introduced legislation to block Chinese nationals from receiving educational visas. The bill is unlikely to pass but has sparked outcry from advocacy groups and students who say it paints them all as potential spies.
🚫 No to H1-B Visas for Foreigners and also no to Students coming to universities in USA especially from China and other Commie pos 💩 countries who are actually here to spy for the CCP! 🇨🇳
💯Ofc the Biden Regime loves to put our National secruity at risk be it open borders,… pic.twitter.com/zNRXSyqdH8
— 💮Texas ARCangel ™️ (@TexasARCangel0) December 29, 2024
China has a 3-tiered spy program: Professional Spies, Chinese Companies operating within the United States, and Chinese Nationals who come here as students who are interrogated whenever they return home.
My latest on Fox News.
Youtube Link: https://t.co/2V2MMqL70S pic.twitter.com/Zqn9lEKjDv
— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) December 12, 2020
The FBI has tracked hundreds of efforts by China to insert researchers into U.S. labs through scholarship programs. These schemes are aimed at gaining access to dual-use technology that could help China’s military catch up to or surpass American capabilities.
Moolenaar’s panel specifically pointed to concerns that U.S. schools are putting research integrity and national security at risk in exchange for financial benefits. With many Chinese students paying full tuition, the incentives for schools to look the other way are substantial.
The University of Michigan, meanwhile, announced it was cutting ties with a major Chinese university after several students were caught acting suspiciously near a military site. That partnership is now set to end within six months.