Republicans Warn US Universities on China Scholarship Program Risks

Republican lawmakers are urging several U.S. universities to terminate their involvement with the China Scholarship Council (CSC), citing concerns that the program facilitates technology theft by the Chinese government.

Concerns Over Technology Transfer

Letters were sent to Dartmouth College, the University of Notre Dame, and five other institutions, highlighting the CSC's alleged use of American universities to bolster China's military and scientific advancements. The CSC, funded by the Chinese government, supports Chinese graduate students studying in the U.S., who are then obligated to return to China for two years post-graduation.

National Security Implications

Representative John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, has labeled the program a national security threat. While some universities, including Dartmouth and Notre Dame, have begun or already planned to end their participation, others are reviewing their involvement.

Ongoing Investigation

The House committee is investigating the CSC's operations within U.S. universities and has requested related documents from the involved institutions.

Broader Scrutiny

The scrutiny follows growing concerns among Republicans regarding Chinese students in the U.S. Previous measures include visa restrictions for students in critical fields and those linked to China's "military-civil fusion" strategy. While universities acknowledge the need for research protection, they caution against broad suspicion of all Chinese scholars, noting that only a small fraction has been implicated in espionage.