Harvard ‘shared vital research with China’: Republicans

Among other claims, Harvard was accused of collaborating with Chinese scientists in areas which could have military use and on organ transplant technology.

Harvard has been accused of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party. Picture; AFP.

Republicans in Congress have opened up a new front in their attacks on Harvard University, accusing it of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party, training its paramilitaries and working with its scientists on “dual-use” research.

The university is fighting back against an assault on its tax-exempt status and funding by the Trump administration, which has accused it of “fostering antisemitism” due to pro-Palestinian activism by its students.

Now, a letter to the university signed by three prominent Republicans highlights longstanding concerns, also expressed about UK and other western universities, over Harvard’s engagement with Chinese partners.

These partners include universities and researchers with links to the Chinese quango behind much of the ruling apparatus in Xinjiang, where Uighurs have been held in “re-education camps”. Other programs accused are directly funded by the US Department of Defence, the Pentagon.

“Harvard trained members of a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group responsible for genocide, and its researchers partnered with Chinese military universities on DoD-funded research and worked with researchers funded by the Iranian regime,” said John Moolenaar, chairman of the House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party. “These are not isolated incidents – they represent a disturbing pattern that puts US national security at risk.”

Over two decades, academic co-operation with China has soared around the world. It has been seen as a huge source of income via its overseas students and collaboration on research led to what was once called a “golden era” of ties between east and west. However, with all university education in China closely directed by the Communist Party, the ties were always vulnerable to accusations that the West was selling the secrets of its scientific leadership to an ideological and military rival. There is particular concern about “dual use” technology – advances which are not necessarily regarded as military but which can have military applications.

According to the letter to Harvard, also signed by Tim Walberg, chairman of the House education committee, and Elise Stefanik, leader of the House Republican conference, the university’s partnerships “raise serious national security and ethical concerns”.

It said Harvard had welcomed members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), the military-backed Chinese quango that runs much of the province, for training courses and conferences as late as last year. There has been concern over XPCC involvement in abuses of the minority Uighur population in Xinjiang for decades, with the US imposing sanctions in 2020.

Harvard was also accused of collaborating with Chinese scientists in areas which could have military use and on organ transplant technology. China has long been accused of using the organs of executed prisoners for transplants.

The Chinese government gave no response to the claims. Harvard told the student newspaper The Crimson – which was sent a copy of the letter – that it had received it but declined to comment.

The representatives implicitly threatened Harvard’s tax-exempt status over the claims, raising further questions over its funding, already an issue for the White House. “Assisting known, sanctioned paramilitary human rights abusers in developing policy and advancing their foreign military capabilities may undermine Harvard’s non-profit mission,” they said.

The Times