US-China investment, ‘Chinese Schindler’, DJI Pentagon battle: 7 US-China relations reads

On Monday, the Pentagon ordered 30 US universities to conduct comprehensive audits of their foreign research partnerships, particularly collaborations with Chinese institutions and organizations linked to former Confucius Institutes. Failure to comply could result in the universities losing future federal funding. The Department of Defence instructed the unnamed universities to review their academic, financial, and research relationships with "entities of concern" and verify if sensitive or export-controlled research was exposed.

They must submit their findings and proposed mitigation measures by August 31, granting them two weeks to complete the reviews. The Pentagon did not disclose the universities involved or the number of notifications related to China as opposed to Russia or Iran. The Chinese embassy in Washington criticized the policy, stating that it overextends the concept of national security and politicizes scientific and educational exchanges.

China emphasized that open cooperation is crucial for scientific innovation and academic development. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment. The audits target partnerships with entities listed under Section 1286 of the 2019 National Defence Authorisation Act, as well as those associated with "rebranded Confucius Institutes."

The reference to Confucius Institutes, which faced political scrutiny in the US before closing or changing names, focuses on China. The Pentagon aims to safeguard taxpayer-funded research from unauthorized technology transfers, intellectual-property theft, and exploitation by foreign adversaries. The updated list includes prominent Chinese universities like Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, as well as institutions with explicit ties to the Chinese military and defense sector.

US researchers are advised to exercise caution before collaborating with institutions on the list, as Pentagon funding is generally prohibited for research involving listed foreign entities. This marks a significant shift from previous warnings to a requirement for universities to examine and potentially terminate relationships with blacklisted institutions.

The announcement follows a report by the House China committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee, which accused Harvard University of inadequate scrutiny of research collaborations with Chinese institutions linked to the People's Liberation Army and the defense-industrial sector.