Congressman John Moolenaar Chairman of the Select Committee on the CCP | Official Website
Chairman John Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China has formally requested information from several U.S. universities regarding their policies on enrolling Chinese national students in advanced STEM programs. This inquiry, directed at Carnegie Mellon, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, and the University of Southern California, seeks to address concerns over potential national security risks.
The letter sent by Chairman Moolenaar points to "China’s strategic efforts to exploit American universities for technological and military advancements," highlighting warnings from intelligence officials about espionage and intellectual property theft on campuses. He stated that "America's student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing," expressing concerns over unrestricted access to sensitive technologies.
The committee is investigating how these institutions might be facilitating China's global ambitions and aims to propose policy solutions to protect U.S. technological leadership. The letter raises questions about the enrollment practices for Chinese nationals and their involvement in federally funded research projects.
Chairman Moolenaar noted that many Chinese nationals study fields with dual-use military applications such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing. According to him, this situation poses a direct threat to national security if not addressed promptly.
A study cited in the letter indicates that only 25% of Chinese graduate students plan to stay in Western countries post-graduation. Many return to China after gaining expertise in advanced fields, which could lead to knowledge transfer back home.
Moolenaar emphasizes that this issue is more than economic; it concerns national security as well. He calls for stronger protections against what he describes as a systematic pipeline established by the CCP "to embed researchers in leading U.S. institutions."
In light of these concerns, Moolenaar has asked the universities involved for detailed information on various aspects related to Chinese national students, including their previous educational affiliations and sources of tuition funding. The inquiry also seeks data on research activities involving these students and any collaborations between university faculty and China-based institutions.
The committee intends to submit policy recommendations based on its findings under its authority granted by H. Res. 5 Sec. 4(a).
