The document discusses the U.S. Department of Justice’s response to economic and national security threats posed by the Chinese government, with a focus on the “China Initiative.” It addresses two principal concerns within academia: theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, and advanced technologies, and efforts to influence and compromise academic openness. A significant portion of U.S. economic espionage prosecutions, approximately 80%, are linked to actors who would benefit the Chinese state, and around 60% of trade secret theft cases have a nexus to China. The document details how Chinese government-sponsored talent programs incentivize scientists to transfer valuable research to China, potentially creating conflicts of interest or more serious legal and ethical violations.
Several legal cases are cited—such as U.S. v. Zhou, Chen and U.S. v. Bo Mao—demonstrating how Chinese nationals affiliated with U.S. academic institutions transferred proprietary technology to China for personal or institutional gain. The document also describes how Chinese universities benefit from this activity, with stolen intellectual property directly supporting research and development efforts in China. The Department of Justice underscores the exploitation of academia through use of organizations for recruiting experts and committing visa fraud. In response, the report advocates best security practices for academic institutions: raising awareness, reviewing foreign collaborations and financial interests, strengthening cybersecurity, and enhancing compliance with export controls. The broader geopolitical context is emphasized, comparing U.S.-led post-WWII norms with China’s emerging global order characterized by assertive policies and state-led economic strategies, and noting concerns over academic freedom, press, and individual rights under Chinese state influence.
