US Moving To Revive China Initiative Targeting Espionage

2025-07-30 12:01:56

(MENAFN- Asia Times) A subcommittee of the US House of Representatives has proposed reviving the Department of Justice's (DOJ) China Initiative, a counterintelligence program aimed at curbing economic espionage and intellectual property theft linked to China.

The proposal, embedded in the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill, aims to counter China's alleged influence in American research, academia, and industry.

According to the bill summary, the China Initiative would be reinstated to“counter China and maintain America's competitive edge.”

On July 23, a coalition of Chinese scholars and advocacy groups issued a letter to Congress condemning the initiative's proposed return. They said the original program had promoted racial profiling against Asian American scholars and scientists.

“The China Initiative created a chilling effect for Asian American scholars and scientists for fear of prosecution, deterring them from engaging in normal activities such as applying for federal grants, conducting research, or even traveling with family,” the letter stated.

The letter was published on the website of the Asian American Scholar Forum, which advocates for academic belonging and equity in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

It cited the now-dismissed case against MIT professor Gang Chen, who was arrested in 2021 under the China Initiative and later exonerated.

“As a victim of the past China Initiative, I am disheartened by ongoing efforts in Congress to reinstate the misguided programme,” Chen said.“It is not only discriminatory, but also harms America's ability to attract top global talent – ultimately weakening, not strengthening, our national security.”

He said he and his family went through a living hell for 371 days due to the investigations. He warned that reinstating the initiative would send a dangerous message to the Chinese academic community.

In a report published by The Guardian on April 16, Chen commented on the recent FBI raid on the home of Indiana University professor Xiaofeng Wang.

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