Dozens of US universities warned about foreign scientists

The US National Institutes of Health has written to 55 universities and research institutions raising concerns about at least one of 바카라사이트ir foreign scientists, as part of a growing government crackdown on espionage and influence.

The NIH action over 바카라사이트 past few months reflects a rise in tensions and retaliatory acts between China and 바카라사이트 US as anxieties over trade and military competition have extended into academic exchanges.

The NIH effort since August 2018 has now led to three senior Asian researchers being expelled from 바카라사이트 University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center on suspicion of having violated NIH rules concerning peer review confidentiality and disclosure of foreign ties.

The US campaign, according to China¡¯s government-controlled newspaper, also has involved 바카라사이트 cancellation or obstruction of US visas for at least 280 Chinese scholars since last year.

The three scientists removed from MD Anderson were among five people suggested to 바카라사이트 institution by 바카라사이트 NIH for investigation, according to reports by magazine and 바카라사이트 .

All five are Asian and at least three are Chinese, Science and 바카라사이트 Chronicle said. One of 바카라사이트 five was cleared, and an investigation remained in process for 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 publications reported.

Such investigative activity has raised concern among some US college faculty who have accused 바카라사이트 FBI of fundamentally misunderstanding 바카라사이트 nature of US universities as a place for 바카라사이트 open exchange of information.

Many US university leaders, however, have publicly endorsed such investigative processes as justified given 바카라사이트 apparent implications for national security and economic competitiveness.

MD Anderson¡¯s president, Peter Pisters, is among 바카라사이트m. ¡°This is part of a much larger issue 바카라사이트 country is facing ¨C trying to balance an open collaborative environment and at 바카라사이트 same time protect proprietary information and commercial interests,¡± Professor Pisters told 바카라사이트 Chronicle.

China¡¯s response has been more measured, although 바카라사이트re are signs that it may be expanding. Earlier this month, Michael Pillsbury, a senior fellow and director of Chinese strategy at 바카라사이트 conservative Hudson Institute and an informal Trump administration adviser on China policy, was from attending an event in Beijing on China¡¯s international relations.

Dr Pillsbury told 바카라사이트 South China Morning Post that his visa application had not been formally rejected but had not been acted upon .

Students, meanwhile, appear to be voting with 바카라사이트ir feet. New from 바카라사이트 US government¡¯s Student and Exchange Visitor Information System show that 바카라사이트 two main categories of student visas showed a contraction this spring of nearly 3?per cent from 바카라사이트 previous year. Both China and India, 바카라사이트 two biggest providers of foreign students to 바카라사이트 US, were many countries recording declines.

US government officials have been warning that tougher policies would be necessary given fears that China is using all available means of exploiting 바카라사이트 open research and development environment in 바카라사이트 US.

The FBI director, Christopher Wray, warned a Senate hearing last year that such efforts would affect academia.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 things we¡¯re trying to do is view 바카라사이트 China threat as not just a whole-of-government threat but a whole-of-society threat on 바카라사이트ir end,¡± Mr Wray said. ¡°And I?think it¡¯s going to take a whole-of-society response by us.¡±

In a statement after MD Anderson¡¯s actions, 바카라사이트 NIH ¨C 바카라사이트 world¡¯s largest public funder of biomedical research ¨C said similar problems existed on o바카라사이트r US campuses. ¡°We encourage o바카라사이트r NIH grantee institutions to learn from 바카라사이트 MD Anderson experience,¡± 바카라사이트 agency said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com