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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing “firmly opposes the politicization of educational cooperation.”
Harvard University. (Reuters/File Image)
Harvard University is facing intense scrutiny from Capitol Hill, as a joint letter from the House Select Committee on China, the House Committee on Education and Workforce, and House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik demanded transparency and accountability regarding the university’s alleged partnerships with the Chinese government and military. This includes claims that Harvard hosted and trained members of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a Chinese paramilitary group placed on the US sanctions list in 2020.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing “firmly opposes the politicization of educational cooperation and rejects baseless attacks and smears against China,” adding, “The US sanctions you mentioned are illegal and should be lifted as soon as possible.”
This comes as the Donald Trump Administration suspended Harvard University’s authorization to enroll international students through the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). This action is a significant setback for Harvard, following previous government decisions to suspend billions in federal funding amidst its escalating conflict with leading educational institutions. The suspension directly impacts international students currently attending the university, including those from India, raising questions about their continued enrollment.
What US Lawmakers Said In Letter About Harvard’s Ties With China
The letter by US lawmakers outlined a series of “troubling partnerships and activities that raise serious national security and ethical concerns.”
Chairman Moolenaar of the House Select Committee on China said, “Harvard trained members of a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group responsible for genocide, and its researchers partnered with Chinese military universities on DoD-funded research and worked with researchers funded by the Iranian regime. These are not isolated incidents—they represent a disturbing pattern that puts U.S. national security at risk. The Select Committee’s investigation will deliver answers, expose the truth, and hold Harvard accountable to the American people.”
Chairman Walberg of the House Committee on Education and Workforce echoed these concerns, emphasizing, “No American university or college should be assisting the CCP in expanding its influence, oppressing American citizens, or undermining U.S. national security. Unfortunately, we have found several instances in which Harvard University aided and even collaborated with the CCP – including helping Chinese researchers on military projects funded by the Iranian government. This is unacceptable and President Garber needs to provide answers to Congress for this colossal failure.”
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