A congressional committee focused on national security threats from China expressed deep concerns regarding a research partnership between the University of California, Berkeley, and various Chinese entities. The committee fears that the collaboration’s advanced research could provide an economic, technological, or military advantage to the Chinese government.
In a letter addressed to officials at Berkeley and the University of California system, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party requested detailed information about the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute. Established in 2014, this collaboration involves China’s prestigious Tsinghua University and the city of Shenzhen. The committee specifically highlighted the institute’s research into “dual-use technologies” that have both civilian and military applications. Examples include advanced semiconductors and imaging technology used for mapping or autonomous vehicles.
Additionally, the committee questioned whether Berkeley had properly disclosed Chinese funding for the institute. They also pointed out Berkeley’s collaborations with Chinese universities and companies that the United States has recently sanctioned, such as the National University of Defense Technology, Huawei, and DJI.
The committee expressed concerns about Chinese access to Berkeley faculty serving at the institute, as they have received funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and other U.S. military development sources. They worry about Chinese exploitation of these experts’ knowledge.
The committee cited an example of a Shenzhen-based lab supported by the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute that won a contest in China to optimize an advanced chip technology. The U.S. government is now attempting to prevent Chinese companies from acquiring this technology, raising questions about Berkeley’s involvement and potential violations of U.S. restrictions on sharing technology with China.
Representatives Mike Gallagher, the committee’s chair, and Virginia Foxx, the committee chair on education and the workforce, expressed their concerns in the letter, describing Berkeley’s collaboration as raising “many red flags.” U.C. Berkeley responded, stating that they take national security concerns seriously and are fully committed to complying with international academic engagement laws.
According to the university, they are reviewing past agreements and actions related to the Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute while fully cooperating with any federal inquiries. They also claimed to have provided detailed information about gifts and contracts related to the institute to the Department of Education. Furthermore, they affirmed their commitment to compliance with laws governing such partnerships, following Congress and federal regulators’ lead when evaluating research relationships with foreign entities.
While universities emphasize that fundamental research conducted through these partnerships is promptly published in academic journals, members of Congress, including U.S. universities with Chinese partners, have raised concerns. These concerns reflect the evolving U.S.-China relationship, which is placing greater pressure on academic collaborations that were initially intended to foster information sharing and break down barriers between the two countries.
The Chinese government has been actively seeking technological advancements through legitimate commercial partnerships, but actions such as espionage, cybertheft, and coercion have led to a backlash in the United States against academic collaborations with Chinese institutions and companies. The select committee, established this year, aims to build consensus on the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and develop a defense plan for the United States. While it can provide legislative recommendations, it does not have the power to legislate independently. The committee has been actively scrutinizing major companies and others with ties to China through hearings, investigations, and letters.
Tensions between the United States and China are currently high, with some lawmakers proposing the decoupling of the two economies. However, severing academic ties proves to be a complex endeavor as American universities heavily rely on open and collaborative research and employ numerous Chinese scholars. China’s significant technology industry and large population of science and technology doctorates make it an attractive collaborator for many research projects.
Nonetheless, the rapid expansion of export controls in the United States imposes more restrictions on sharing information and data related to advanced technologies with individuals and organizations in China. Even carrying a laptop with specific chip designs to China or providing a Chinese national with a tour of a U.S. chip lab can now violate the law.
The House committee has requested extensive documents and information from the university by July 27. They seek details about the partnership’s funding, structure, and technological work, as well as the current and past affiliations of its alumni and its compliance with U.S. export controls.
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