U.S. universities sever ties with China-backed scholarship program amid espionage fears
By jacobthomas // 2025-09-30
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  • Seven U.S. universities have terminated joint programs with the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) following pressure from a congressional committee investigating technology theft and espionage.
  • The U.S. House Select Committee on the CCP characterizes the CSC as a "dangerous technology transfer initiative," alleging it is not a benign educational body but a key instrument for advancing China's military and technological ambitions.
  • The committee's primary concerns are the CSC's "return-and-serve" mandate, requiring students to return to China after studies, and its requirement for detailed quarterly reports to Chinese officials, which transforms academic work into state-directed intelligence gathering.
  • This action is part of a broader U.S. effort to counter systematic technology theft, linking the CSC to other notorious Chinese programs like the "Thousand Talents Program" used to acquire American research and intellectual property.
  • The committee considers protecting American research its top priority and is pushing for a wider academic boycott, signaling that further investigations and actions against risky academic partnerships are likely.
Seven U.S. universities have abruptly terminated joint programs with a Chinese regime-backed scholarship council, following intense scrutiny from a congressional committee investigating technology theft and espionage. The decision, announced by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, marks a hardening stance against what officials describe as a systemic effort by Beijing to pilfer American scientific and technological research. The universities, Dartmouth College, Temple University, University of California - Davis, University of California - Irvine, University of California - Riverside, University of Notre Dame and University of Tennessee, were commended for their action by Committee Chair Rep. John Moolenaar. The programs were tied to the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC), which supports Chinese students for "state-sponsored study abroad." The House Select Committee on China has long targeted the CSC, characterizing it not as a benign educational body but as a key instrument of state policy. In July, Moolenaar sent letters to the seven universities, urging them to sever their ties and laying out a stark case against the CSC. "I commend these seven universities for taking decisive action to close their programs tied to the Chinese Scholarship Council, a dangerous technology transfer initiative that advances the PRC's authoritarian ambitions," Moolenaar stated following the universities' compliance. The core of the committee's concern is that the CSC functions as a "China-controlled technology transfer entity." It allegedly exploits American educational and research resources to accelerate China's military and technological development. This aligns with a broader pattern identified by U.S. authorities, where China has constructed a vast network of mechanisms to recruit and exploit students and scholars for what they acquire abroad. The committee's investigation suggests these programs are a conduit for a more sophisticated operation. The CSC's infiltration methods include requiring sponsored students to return to China after their studies and serve for at least two years. This "return-and-serve" mandate ensures that knowledge gained in U.S. laboratories is directly funneled back to China. Furthermore, the level of control and surveillance exerted over these students is considered a major red flag. The committee found that CSC-sponsored students must submit detailed quarterly reports to Chinese embassies or consulates in the United States, detailing their academic progress, laboratory work, research outcomes and publications.

A broader pattern of theft and coercion

The action against the CSC programs is not an isolated event but part of a concerted response to what the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has highlighted for years: China's endeavor to enhance its military capabilities through the theft of scientific and technological research from America. The Department of Justice has been actively cracking down on researchers at American universities who hide their professional relationships with Chinese institutions, particularly those involved in talent recruitment programs. Moolenaar's letter to the universities drew a clear distinction between the CSC and other international student programs. "Unlike other international student programs, the CSC has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism due to concerns over academic freedom, surveillance of students, ideological control and potential espionage," he wrote. This scrutiny places the CSC in the same category as other notorious mechanisms, such as the "Thousand Talents Program,” which the CCP has long used to acquire American technology through military-linked collaborations, forced technology transfer and outright espionage. The concern is particularly acute for professors who can exploit their ties to China and their participation in talent recruitment programs to steal intellectual property. (Related: Chinese espionage operations in the U.S. are "off the scale," warns analyst.)

The top priority

With seven universities now cutting ties, the House committee is pushing for a wider academic boycott. Moolenaar has made it clear that this is only the beginning, expressing hope that more schools across the United States will follow this lead and put “the integrity of American science and our national security first.” As explained by Brighteon.AI's Enoch: "The decision by these seven institutions represents a pivotal moment in the complex relationship between U.S. higher education and foreign entities. It highlights a growing recognition within the academic community of the risks embedded in certain international collaborations." As the committee continues its work, the message to universities is unequivocal: vigilance is paramount. The integrity of American innovation and the security of the nation's technological edge depend on it. As the committee itself hinted, this may just be the surface of a much deeper issue, suggesting there is "much more to uncover." Watch this video about hidden espionage tactice reshaping America. This video is from the JMC Broadcasting channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Chinese spies indicted for espionage: A threat to U.S. military integrity. U.S. officials warned to switch to encrypted communications amid cyber espionage threats. Stanford student paper reveals China's efforts to infiltrate university, steal research. Sources include: NTD.com SelectCommitteeOnTheCCP.house.gov Brighteon.AI Brighteon.com
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