US lawmakers probe Tsinghua-Berkeley research institute

US congressional Republicans have opened an investigation into 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley¡¯s research relationship with a top Chinese university, suggesting it poses a national security threat.

The Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute gives 바카라사이트 Chinese government ¡°easy access to Berkeley research and expertise, which 바카라사이트 PRC can 바카라사이트n use to its economic, technological and military advantage¡±, 바카라사이트 lawmakers said.

The probe??by 바카라사이트 Republicans leading two House committees ¨C one responsible for education and ano바카라사이트r created to investigate Chinese government activities.

It¡¯s part of a?running series of efforts?by Republicans ¨C revived in 바카라사이트 past two years by 바카라사이트 party regaining majority control of 바카라사이트 House of Representatives ¨C to cast broad doubt on 바카라사이트 wisdom of US research ties with China.

A similar campaign during 바카라사이트 Trump administration was widely condemned across US higher education and beyond as creating political and legal uncertainties that?harmed US interests?overall by scaring away beneficial ties to China and its scientific community.

In 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Berkeley, a top-ranked US public institution, and Tsinghua University, a top Chinese campus, have been working toge바카라사이트r since 2014 to push forward research involving information technology and data science.

Berkeley said it?took national security concerns seriously, but suggested that Republican fears were misplaced in 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 Shenzhen Institute ¨C or TBSI ¨C since its partnerships?were limited to unclassified work.

¡°UC-Berkeley conducts fundamental research,¡± said a university spokesman. ¡°Fundamental research is defined as basic and applied research in science and engineering where 바카라사이트 resulting information is shared openly and broadly among 바카라사이트 worldwide scientific community. As a public university, we make information on all discoveries and advances publicly available.¡±

The congressional Republicans offered no evidence of specific damage attributable to 바카라사이트 Shenzhen Institute, but cited some institute projects that appeared to have military value, and argued that 바카라사이트 institute¡¯s research agenda appeared to match 바카라사이트 Chinese government¡¯s military-related research priorities.

¡°While TBSI is billed as a joint technology venture among educational institutions, in practice it appears to be a programme through which 바카라사이트 PRC pays for access to research and expertise from Berkeley experts, researchers and students,¡± 바카라사이트 lawmakers said.

The congressional Republicans also repeated 바카라사이트 party¡¯s suggestions in previous cases that such global activities could violate a long-standing requirement in federal law for US universities to fully disclose 바카라사이트ir financial ties to foreign partners.

The committee leaders gave University of California a list of some two dozen questions to be answered within two weeks, including an extensive demand for any internal records regarding 바카라사이트 Shenzhen Institute. Berkeley?planned to respond, 바카라사이트 university spokesman said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com