Moolenaar urges DoD to add 120 Chinese entities to research watchlist
- Rep. John Moolenaar requested adding 58 Chinese schools and 62 technology labs to the DoD's 1286 list
- The list restricts federal research funding for entities collaborating with included Chinese institutions
- Tsinghua University is targeted, noting advisory board ties to CEOs of NVIDIA, Apple, and AMD
- The DoD previously investigated 30 U.S. schools for potential collaboration with listed Chinese entities
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Rep. John Moolenaar has requested the U.S. Department of Defense add 120 Chinese entities to the list restricting federal research funding. The proposal includes 58 schools and 62 technology labs linked to semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
The additions target institutions on the 1286 list, which bars the Defense Department from providing research funding to entities collaborating with them. Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on China, sent the letter this month, highlighting compliance risks for U.S. universities.
Tsinghua University and corporate ties
The request specifically includes Tsinghua University, a prominent institution educating China’s political and business elite. Several U.S. business leaders serve on the advisory board of Tsinghua’s business school, including chief executives from:
- NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA)
- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)
- Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: AMD)
Reuters reported that the board aims to foster ties between U.S. and Chinese companies. Listing Tsinghua would formally flag these connections as a national security concern for federal funding eligibility.
Broader scrutiny of China links
This move follows increased congressional scrutiny of U.S.-China institutional ties. In August, the Defense Department announced an investigation into 30 U.S. schools for potential collaboration with listed Chinese institutions. Earlier in June, lawmakers sought information from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) and AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV) regarding clinical trials in China, citing data protection and ethical risks, though no illegal activity was alleged.
Separately, a House panel raised national-security concerns about Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL) this week, citing alleged links between its ownership, technology infrastructure, and China. The Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
How might the inclusion of Tsinghua University on the 1286 list impact the strategic partnerships and advisory roles held by executives from NVIDIA, Apple, and AMD?
What specific compliance frameworks will U.S. universities need to implement to navigate the expanded restrictions on federal research funding involving the newly proposed Chinese entities?
Could the Defense Department's ongoing investigation into 30 U.S. schools lead to broader legislative actions targeting private sector collaborations with Chinese institutions beyond federal research grants?
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