A recent report by a watchdog group has revealed that several prestigious American universities have invited Chinese scholars who have ties to Chinese military-affiliated technology companies, such as the tech giant Huawei, and other Chinese firms linked to the Chinese Communist Party's national security initiatives.

Just the News reported, citing a report by the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), that they identified approximately two dozen Chinese scholars working at top U.S. universities and research institutions.

These scholars, the report argued, "should be barred from entering or allowed to re-enter the U.S. due to the dual-use threat of their research, close ties to China's military research sector, and/or clear ties to the Chinese Communist Party."

The AAF report indicated that several Chinese students conducting research at U.S. universities have previously collaborated on projects with Huawei researchers, including those from Huawei's internal cybersecurity research institute.

Just the News reported that at least one Chinese scholar was found to have worked for iFlytek, a blacklisted Chinese company that frequently collaborates with Huawei.

The U.S. National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence stated in 2021 that "nationally significant" companies like Huawei and iFlytek are "driving domestic AI technology development" and "helping to advance national priorities that support military and security programs."

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China stated in a 2019 report that "Chinese security services have continuously collaborated with domestic firms, including Huawei and iFlytek, to expand the reach and analytical capabilities of government surveillance systems."

Just the News pointed out that several U.S. universities have accepted Chinese Communist Party members and participants of the "Thousand Talents Plan," which has historically been used to steal U.S. technological and scientific know-how for China, according to Just the News.

The Thousand Talents Plan (千人計劃) is a national talent recruitment program implemented in 2008 to attract high-level scientific and technological talent from overseas to China. It officially ceased public promotion in 2018 due to increased U.S. scrutiny but has recently changed its name to initiatives like the "Qiming Plan" or "National Plan for the Recruitment of High-Level Foreign Experts" to focus on recruiting key technical personnel in fields such as semiconductors.

The AAF report also highlighted that a Chinese scientist currently working at a U.S. university previously worked for the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), a defense conglomerate under the Chinese Communist Party that has been blacklisted by the U.S. government. This state-owned military enterprise is known as one of the largest defense contractors globally.

The AAF report also pointed out that a Chinese scientist working at a U.S. school previously worked at a Chinese high-pressure science and technology advanced research center blacklisted by the U.S. government.

According to AAF's new report, "Assessing the Threat of Chinese Scientist Infiltration," Chinese students funded by the U.S. government to conduct cutting-edge technology research at major American universities may pose a threat to U.S. national security due to their problematic pasts.

U.S. universities that have recruited Chinese scientists associated with blacklisted companies of the Chinese Communist Party include Cornell University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Southern California, and Purdue University.

By Hong Sung-goo, Chief Reporter, NNP / Special Contribution to this publication NNP info@newsandpost.com