Rubio Calls for End to U.S-China University Partnerships that Support the Development of Chinese Military Technologies

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent letters to 22 U.S. universities urging them to terminate their academic and research partnerships with universities located in the People's Republic of China (PRC) that support Beijing's military-civil fusion (MCF) strategy. Through MCF, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to increase the capabilities and lethality of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) by acquiring and developing the world's cutting-edge technology, including through theft. A key part of this strategy is the recruitment of intelligent and innovative professionals around the world whose expertise is often unwittingly exploited through seemingly harmless academic collaboration and exchange.

"For decades, Beijing has openly exploited the expertise of Chinese students and scholars studying or conducting research in the United States to accelerate the PRC's economic and military development," Rubio wrote. "For example, according to one study conducted between 2007 and 2017, the PLA reportedly sent more than 2,500 of its own scientists abroad to study and work at foreign universities. Some of these scientists traveled abroad under civilian cover so as to obfuscate their military affiliations."

"I remain deeply concerned by the PLA's aggressive campaign to infiltrate America's research enterprise," Rubio concluded. "I respectfully urge you to terminate the above outlined partnership agreement, and to take steps to thoroughly vet your other academic partners in the PRC for similar risks involving the misappropriation of academic research."

Using information available through open sources, Rubio uncovered partnerships that contribute to the PRC's MCF strategy at the following U.S. universities:

1. Rutgers University
2. The University of Texas at Dallas
3. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville
4. The University of Washington
5. Texas A&M University
6. Arizona State University
7. Pacific Lutheran University
8. The University of Utah
9. Portland State University
10. The University of Delaware
11. San Diego Global Knowledge University
12. Stanford University
13. Emory University
14. The College of William and Mary
15. Tufts University
16. San Francisco State University
17. The University of Toledo
18. The University of Oregon
19. The University of Central Arkansas
20. Xavier University of Louisiana
21. Bryant University
22. Alfred University

Rubio is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

The full text of one of the letters is below. Each individual letter is hyperlinked above.

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