The document summarizes discussions from an October 2021 forum addressing the complexities of science and security in the context of U.S.-China relations, with particular focus on the treatment of Chinese students and scholars, the risks of racial profiling, and policy approaches to Chinese influence in academia and technology. The panel, consisting of academic leaders and national security experts, critiqued historical and contemporary cases (such as those of Qian Xuesen, Wen Ho Lee, and Chunzai Wang) where U.S. investigations of espionage and intellectual property theft led to significant legal and ethical controversies, often resulting in acquittals or judicial rebukes, highlighting the danger of double standards and the detrimental impact of unfounded suspicions on both scientific progress and individuals’ lives.
Comprehensive analysis was also provided on the challenges posed by China’s politicized and opaque integration of government, commercial, and academic sectors. The document underscores that effective responses to national security threats require leveraging extensive, publicly available datasets and sophisticated risk analysis frameworks to identify genuine state-sponsored technology transfer and influence networks, rather than relying on broad or discriminatory measures. It underscores the importance of nuanced, data-driven investigatory methods that target specific risk indicators—such as links to military-civil fusion entities or participation in government talent programs—while avoiding racial profiling. The panelists note an urgent need for reform in U.S. research security policy, advocating for a measured approach that aligns protection of national interests with the principles of fairness and due process in scientific collaboration.
