New charges have been filed against three Chinese nationals who previously worked at the University of Michigan. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan has accused them of smuggling biological material. Their employment was terminated after they did not cooperate with an internal investigation by the university, which began following a letter from Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg, and House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin.
“These new charges reveal an organized network of scholars engaged in illegal activity on Michigan’s campus. It is part of a broader, coordinated campaign targeting universities across the country, driven by China’s efforts to acquire American technology. University leaders should launch internal reviews to safeguard their research from China’s adversarial actions. My colleagues and I appreciate the accountability we've seen from Michigan through our oversight efforts, and we will continue to use every tool we have to protect taxpayer-funded research and national security,” said Moolenaar.
Moolenaar and Walberg have expressed support for the SAFE Research Act. This legislation aims to prevent federal STEM funding from being awarded to universities or researchers who collaborate with China's military or intelligence agencies.
