‘Did a Chinese steal your job?’ US Congress panel faces discrimination backlash
A Republican-led congressional committee focused on US competition with China has issued a public call for American academics to come forward if they think they missed out on jobs in favour of “applicants from China”. “Are you an American student, postdoctoral researcher, or academic who believes you were denied a research position, laboratory opportunity, or postdoctoral appointment because…
A Republican-led committee investigating US-China competition has urged American scientists to report if they believe they lost research positions or opportunities to Chinese applicants. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition released a call on X, formerly Twitter, seeking first-hand accounts or documentation of such instances.
However, the move has sparked backlash, with critics accusing the committee of potentially inflaming anti-Chinese sentiment. Notable figures, including Kaiser Kuo and Michael Swaine, denounced the appeal, arguing it could foster racial profiling and undermine US competitiveness. Denis Simon, an expert on US-China science ties, cautioned that the committee's approach risks "overt racism," emphasizing that choices in academic placements often hinge on factors such as expertise and publication records rather than nationality.
The committee's initiative comes amid a broader debate in Washington over how to scrutinize China's influence without engaging in discriminatory practices. This discourse mirrors the controversy surrounding the Justice Department's China Initiative, which was terminated in 2022 due to allegations of racial profiling and its detrimental effects on Chinese-American academics.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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