Dr. Li-Meng Yan, a Chinese-born virologist, spoke with Ed Haugland on the The National Security Hour podcast on America Out Loud about the Chinese Communist Party's influence on American education.
She said many Chinese students studying in the U.S. act as "spies" and relay research back to the CCP.
According to the podcast host, there are approximately 360,000 to 370,000 Chinese students in the United States. In contrast, there are only approximately 18,000 American students who have chosen to study in China.
Yan described the situation regarding Chinese students studying in the U.S. as complex. She said the CCP exercises significant control over the freedom to study abroad. Most Chinese people face economic challenges and struggle to access higher education, even within China where it is comparatively cheaper than in the U.S., the podcast said. As a result, the rights of most Chinese people who come to the U.S. for study are limited. Over the past two decades, the CCP has implemented strict selection processes, particularly for Ph.D. level students, who often rely on full scholarships, according to the podcast.
"However, at this level, including at the Ph.D. level, everything is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, Yan said. “They have established a massive network based on my race, in that age group, in my field—they supply you the student. The scholarship can be afforded by the Chinese government using national scholarships."
Yan said the CCP is directly involved in Chinese students’ education and careers in the U.S.: "They will give you political tasks and also an agreement you have to sign."
She suggests the Chinese students "report to the Chinese government and cooperate... for the CCP to benefit. To show value for China means that they already built a bridge between the CCP and the students' observations, stealing all the American research back to China. That is a better way for the CCP to open the gates to America and grab everything."
Haugland used the term "cognitive war" happening between China and the U.S., essentially a competition for research and data obtained through the education system.
"That's basically saying you have eyes and ears or, you know, for lack of a simpler term, spies across the United States," he said, suggesting a possible link to the origins of COVID-19 coming from the Chinese government.
Haugland also talked about the FBI's actions in relation to Chinese elements in the United States. Two years ago, FBI Director Christopher Wray said they initiated a counterintelligence investigation on a Chinese entity every 10 days. In 2022, the program was terminated due to a purported concern for Chinese nationals and Chinese individuals residing in the United States. Haugland said this decision was based on a "false narrative or a total lie."
He also said this program was important given Yan's comments that each of the 370,000 Chinese students in the U.S. can be seen as "a reporter for China," tasked with gathering specific information to bring back to their home country.
"It shows the level of sophistication and I think compromise in our U.S. government at the highest levels and working with China to subvert and undermine our country," Haugland said.
