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British and US intelligence chiefs say businesses should not underestimate China’s commitment to using espionage to steal intellectual property.
They seek to balance the need for talented people who were not born in the US or Britain in order to maintain a technological advantage over China while protecting national and economic security.
Washington lawmakers are debating ways to give America the upper hand in the technology race with China… sensing that Chinese President Xi Jinping is watching and hoping they fail.
American research universities have been put on the front lines.
Studies show that over 75% of foreign researchers in the United States are engaged in scientific research. The United States needs more domestic researchers who have graduated in science fields.
“Many of the foreign graduates, those with doctoral degrees, leave the country because of immigration issues”, says former Deputy Secretary of Defense Kari Bingen.
Ms Bingen is one of 18 former US national security officials to sign a letter calling on Congress to lift restrictions on immigrants with advanced degrees in science and technology.
“If we want to win the race in technology, we need the best brains that are born in the USA and from around the world”says Mrs. Bingen.
But security experts say China is actively exploiting America’s support for foreign talent.
“China has sent individuals to the US as researchers, students, temporary visitors, and they have copied Americans in academic institutions and other institutions through their program called “Thousand Talents” in an attempt to steal American intellectual property.” says national security expert Jamil Jaffer.
Ohio State University professor Song Guo Zheng, 58, admitted he had tried to recruit Chinese talent but had kept his efforts under wraps to avoid losing millions of dollars in US government funding for a program to help China in the field of medicine. He is now serving three years in prison.
FBI Director Christopher Wray sent an urgent warning to businesses recently in a joint appearance with Britain’s intelligence chief, MI5.
“The Chinese government is determined to steal your technology and use it to harm your business and dominate your market”Mr. Wray said.
China responded a day later.
“These remarks by the intelligence official fully expose his Cold War-rooted mentality and ideological bias,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
Former Education Department adviser Dan Currell says universities and grant-making entities need to develop more safeguards to protect important scientific research.
“There really isn’t a system for vetting people who are involved in research programs”says Mr Currell.
Experts say that the development of this system is now critical for America’s future, as the former US Deputy Secretary of Defense warns, the possibility of losing the technological race with China is serious./VOA
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