Chairman John Moolenaar of the Select Committee on China has issued letters to seven universities, urging them to terminate joint programs linked to the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC). The institutions include Dartmouth College, Temple University, University of California campuses at Davis, Irvine, and Riverside, University of Notre Dame, and University of Tennessee. Moolenaar alleges that these programs contribute to China's military and scientific advancements by exploiting U.S. academic institutions.
The CSC has faced criticism for its methods in acquiring U.S. technology through legal and illegal means such as talent recruitment programs and academic partnerships that may serve military purposes. "Unlike other international student programs," writes Moolenaar in his letter, "the CSC has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism due to concerns over academic freedom, surveillance of students, ideological control, and potential espionage."
Moolenaar's letters request detailed information from the universities about their relationships with the CSC. This includes contractual documents between the institutions and CSC; data on which Chinese entities sponsored students have come from or gone to post-graduation; details on CSC-funded students who participated in research funded by the U.S. government; and justification for supporting PRC-talent development.
This action aligns with a long-term goal of Moolenaar's committee: ending joint programs associated with the CCP-managed technology transfer efforts. A report released last September revealed significant taxpayer-funded research aiding China's military capabilities.
