The document, prepared by the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division, highlights the ongoing efforts by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to exploit the openness of US academic institutions for the collection of sensitive research, intellectual property, and other information beneficial to China’s military advancement. It details several recent cases in which PLA officers, misrepresenting their backgrounds and affiliations on US visa applications, gained access to academic environments under the guise of scholarly exchange. These individuals leveraged their positions to obtain sensitive materials, research data, and personal information, often forwarding such data to counterparts in China, and in several instances, used university resources to support China’s military modernization efforts. Arrests of several such individuals underscore the seriousness and persistent nature of this threat.
The bulletin urges US universities to recognize and address the risk posed by foreign adversaries, recommending heightened vigilance and collaboration with federal authorities. Specific indicators of potential threat actors are identified, such as nondisclosure of foreign funding, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and concealed military affiliations. To mitigate these risks, universities are encouraged to enhance compliance efforts, provide targeted training, protect intellectual property, ensure secure hosting of foreign researchers, and review foreign collaborations and travel policies. The FBI stress the importance of balanced security practices that sustain academic openness while safeguarding national security interests, providing links to additional resources and outlining avenues for reporting suspicious activity.
