US lawmaker question top US universities over Chinese nationals in sensitive STEM research
House Select Committee
on China has sent a letter to the leaders of Carnegie Mellon, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, and the University of Southern California, asking for details about their policies and practices related to the enrollment of Chinese national students in advanced
STEM
programs and their engagement in federally funded research, as reported by the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (SCCCP).
The letter underscores the growing dangers associated with China's deliberate attempts to leverage American universities for technological and military gains.
Intelligence officials have indicated that American campuses are vulnerable targets for espionage and intellectual property theft; however, prestigious universities continue to enroll significant numbers of Chinese nationals in crucial research programs, prioritising financial gain over the long-term national security and education of
American students
in vital fields, as stated in the SCCCP release.
Also Read:
Turbulence ahead: Elon Musk exits from DOGE, but now trouble awaits him at Tesla, SpaceX, and X
"The Chinese Communist Party has established a well-documented, systematic pipeline to embed researchers in leading US institutions, providing them direct exposure to sensitive technologies with dual-use military applications," said Chairman Moolenaar.
Live Events
"America's student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing, providing unrestricted access to our top research institutions and posing a direct threat to our national security. If left unaddressed, this trend will continue to displace American talent, compromise research integrity, and fuel China's technological ambitions at our expense," as quoted by the SCCCP release.
"The United States is at a dangerous crossroads where the pursuit of short-term financial gains by academic institutions jeopardises long-term global technological leadership and national security. Our nation's universities, long regarded as the global standard for excellence and innovation, are increasingly used as conduits for foreign adversaries to illegally gain access to critical research and advanced technology. Nonetheless, too many
US universities
continue to prioritise financial incentives over the education of American students, domestic workforce development and national security," he said.
Also read:
TACO Trump: Jimmy Kimmel brutally trolls President on his show, asks 'How does it feel?'
"They do so by admitting large numbers of Chinese nationals into advanced STEM programs, potentially at the expense of qualified Americans. Accordingly, we write to request information regarding your university's policies and oversight mechanisms concerning the enrollment of Chinese national undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students, their involvement in federally funded research, and the security of sensitive technologies developed on campus," the release said.
The House Select Committee on the CCP will persist in examining how US educational institutions might be aiding the CCP's worldwide objectives and will seek policy measures to protect American technological supremacy, the announcement stated.
Economic Times WhatsApp channel
)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
27 minutes ago
- India.com
List of 10 largest banks in the world released, China dominates with top 4 positions followed by..., India is...
New Delhi: China is the second largest economy in the world. But if we look at the list of the 10 largest banks in the world in terms of assets, then China dominates it. China has four banks at the top of this list. The total assets of these four banks are around 23 trillion dollars. America and France have 2 banks each in the top 10 list, while Japan and Britain have one bank each. India's banks SBI and HDFC Bank are far behind in this list. Which are the 10 largest banks in the world by assets? Here is the list of 10 largest banks in the world by assets, top 4 are from China. According to Bloomberg, China's Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) is at the top of this list with assets of 6.7 trillion dollars. It is the largest of the 'big four' banks in China, and the largest bank in the world by total assets. The Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), also known as AgBank, is one of the 'big four' banks in China, and the second largest bank in the world by total assets of $5.9 trillion. The China Construction Bank Corporation (CCB), headquartered in Beijing, is one of the 'big four' banks in China, and is the third largest bank in the world by total assets of $5.6 trillion. The Bank of China is one of the 'big four' banks in China. It is at number four in this list with the total assets of $4.8 trillion. In this way, there are four Chinese banks at the top four positions in the list of world's banks whose total assets are around $23 trillion which is more than China's GDP ($19.23 trillion). The total assets of these four Chinese banks are around $23 trillion which is more than China's GDP, which is about $20 trillion. Which are the other countries? In this list, America's JP Morgan Chase is at number five with assets of $4 trillion. Bank of America is at number six with assets of $3.3 trillion. Britain's bank HSBC is at number seven with assets of $3 trillion. France's BNP Paribas with $2.8 trillion and Credit Agricole Group with $2.7 trillion are at number eight and nine. Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is at number ten with $2.6 trillion. Where does India rank? India's largest public sector bank SBI ($547 billion) and HDFC Bank ($494 billion) are among the top 100. India's largest public sector bank State Bank of India (SBI) has total assets of $547 billion and HDFC Bank has assets of $494 billion. Both these Indian banks have made it to the top 100.
Mint
35 minutes ago
- Mint
Trump Butler assassination attempt: Secret Service knew of threat 10 days before rally, failed to act, GAO report
Ten days before the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, senior Secret Service officials were briefed on a classified threat to the then former President's life—but failed to alert the agents responsible for his protection, a congressional watchdog report has revealed. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Secret Service's internal systems for sharing classified intelligence were siloed and ineffective, contributing directly to a breakdown in rally security planning. 'The Secret Service had no process to share classified threat information with partners when the information was not considered an imminent threat to life,' the GAO report stated. The GAO report, released by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Saturday, revealed that neither the Secret Service agents on the ground nor local law enforcement had been informed about the threat. 'Secret Service and local law enforcement personnel central to developing site security plans for the rally were unaware of the threat,' the report noted. Even the special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Pittsburgh field office—which had jurisdiction over the rally—reported that he never received the information. 'He reported that if he had received the threat information, he would have requested additional assets, such as ballistic glass, additional drone mitigation, and a full counter-sniper advance team,' the GAO said. Senator Grassley sharply criticised the agency, saying the Butler shooting was the result of cascading failures. 'One year ago, a series of bad decisions and bureaucratic handicaps led to one of the most shocking moments in political history,' Grassley said in a statement, according to The New York Post. 'The Secret Service's failure on July 13th was the culmination of years of mismanagement and came after the Biden administration denied requests for enhanced security to protect President Trump.' Grassley described the 98-page GAO report as a 'comprehensive overview of the failures' and called for urgent reforms. 'This information would not have been possible without congressional oversight, and my work will continue,' he was quoted as adding. 'Americans should be grateful that President Trump survived that day and was ultimately reelected to restore common sense to our country.' The GAO also flagged major operational deficiencies in the planning and staffing of the Butler rally: Of the 14 agents interviewed, five said they relied solely on their own experience for decision-making, as there were no standard protocols or oversight. The site agent assigned to Butler was new to the role, and the rally was her first time planning a large outdoor event. Drone support was unavailable—either allocated to the party conventions or inoperable. The few drones present were flown by inexperienced operators, and some malfunctioned during deployment. The GAO's findings come days after the Secret Service announced disciplinary actions against six agents and confirmed it had implemented 21 of 46 oversight recommendations, with 16 more in progress. Grassley says the report offers not just a condemnation, but a roadmap. 'More importantly, this report offers a clear path forward for the Secret Service to improve, so it can prevent another Butler from ever happening again,' he said. The July 13, 2024 attack left Trump wounded and a supporter dead, sparking multiple investigations and the resignation of Secret Service Director Sean Curran. The fallout continues to reshape security protocols surrounding political figures in the US.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
At least 30 killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza Strip, say officials
Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 30 people on Sunday, including six children at a water collection point, local health officials said, despite attempts by mediators to bring about a ceasefire. Israel and Hamas appeared no closer to a breakthrough in talks meant to pause the 21-month war and free some Israeli hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington last week to discuss the deal with the Trump administration, but a new sticking point has emerged over the deployment of Israeli troops during the truce, raising questions over the feasibility of a new deal. Israel says it will only end the war once Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something it refuses to do. Hamas says it is willing to free all the remaining 50 hostages, less than half said to be alive, in exchange for an end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces. Gaza's Health Ministry said Sunday that more than 58,000 people have been killed in the war. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count but says more than half of the dead are women and children. In the Oct 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted 251 in a raid on northern Israel. Throughout the war in Gaza, violence has also surged in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where funerals were held Sunday for two Palestinians, including Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet, 20, who was killed in an attack by Israeli settlers, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Children killed at a water collection point In central Gaza, officials at Al-Awda Hospital said it received 10 bodies after an Israeli strike on a water collection point in nearby Nuseirat. Among the dead were six children, the hospital said. Ramadan Nassar, a witness who lives in the area, told The Associated Press that around 20 children and 14 adults were lined up Sunday morning to fill up water. When the strike occurred, everyone ran and some, including those who were severely injured, fell to the ground, he said. He said Palestinians walk some 2 kilometres to fetch water from the area. The Israeli military said it was targeting a militant but that a technical error made its munition fall dozens of metres from the target. It said the incident was being examined. Additionally, health officials said an Israeli strike hit a group of citizens walking in the street on Sunday afternoon, killing 11 people and injuring around 30 others in central Gaza City. Dr Ahmed Qandil, who specialises in general surgery and laparoscopic, was among those killed, the Gaza Health Ministry said in a statement. One of the ministry's spokespeople, Zaher al-Wahidi, told the AP that Qandil was on his way to Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital when the strike happened. All bodies and those wounded were taken to Al-Ahli hospital, according to al-Wahidi. In the central town of Zawaida, an Israeli strike on a home killed nine, including two women and three children, officials at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said. The military said it was unaware of a strike on the home, but has struck over 150 targets over the past 24 hours, including what it said are weapons storage facilities, missile launchers and sniping posts. Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the militant group operates out of populated areas. Funeral held for Palestinian-American killed in the West Bank In the West Bank, where violence between Israeli troops and Palestinians has been compounded by attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers, funerals were held for a Palestinian-American and a Palestinian friend of his. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Musallet, a Florida native, was killed after being beaten by Israeli settlers. Diana Halum, a cousin, said the attack occurred on his family's land. The Health Ministry initially identified him as Seifeddine Musalat, 23. Musallet's friend, Mohammed al-Shalabi, was shot in the chest, according to the ministry. On Sunday, their bodies were carried through the streets of Al-Mazraa a-Sharqiya, a town south of where they were killed. Mourners, waving Palestinian flags, chanted God is great. In a statement Saturday, Musallet's family said he was a kind, hard-working, and deeply-respected young man, working to build his dreams. It said he built a business in Tampa, Florida, and that he was deeply connected to his Palestinians heritage. Musallet's family said it wants the US State Department to investigate his death and hold the settlers accountable. The State Department said it was aware of the reports of his death but had no comment out of respect for the family. Israel's military has said Palestinians hurled rocks at Israelis in the area on Friday, lightly wounding two people and setting off a larger confrontation. Palestinians and rights groups have long accused the military of ignoring settler violence.
