A congressional investigation has revealed systematic exploitation of U.S. research partnerships by China, with taxpayer-funded nuclear technology and advanced innovations potentially benefiting Beijing’s military modernization efforts. The report published Wednesday by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce details how China leverages scientific collaborations with Department of Energy-funded researchers to access sensitive technologies with national security implications.
The comprehensive analysis identified over 4,300 academic papers published between June 2023 and June 2024 resulting from collaborations between DOE-funded scientists and Chinese researchers. Approximately half of these publications involved Chinese researchers directly affiliated with China’s military-industrial complex. The investigation uncovered federal funding supporting research partnerships with Chinese state-owned laboratories and universities that operate under military direction, including several entities listed in the Pentagon’s database of Chinese military companies operating within the United States.
Particularly alarming were documented collaborations between U.S. researchers and Chinese organizations previously implicated in cyberattacks and human rights violations. The Energy Department, which allocates hundreds of millions annually for advanced research in nuclear energy, quantum computing, materials science, and physics, has allegedly failed for decades to implement adequate safeguards preventing research benefits from flowing to China’s defense establishment.
The report recommends substantial policy reforms, including standardized national security risk assessments for research proposals involving Chinese partnerships and enhanced interagency information sharing to identify problematic collaborations more effectively. Committee Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) characterized the findings as revealing “a deeply alarming problem” where American taxpayers inadvertently fund the military advancement of the nation’s “foremost adversary.”
While legislative efforts to address these concerns faced opposition from scientific communities warning against overly broad measures that might undermine America’s technological competitiveness, the report emphasizes the urgent need for balanced security protocols that protect critical research without stifling legitimate international scientific cooperation.