Bejing demands protections for students in US

Beijing yesterday demanded protections for Chinese students in the US after a Congressional panel asked six American universities to hand over a large amount of detailed information on their Chinese students, citing national security concerns.

A letter sent to the universities, including Stanford and Carnegie Mellon, alleged that the Chinese government was embedding researchers in top American institutions to gain direct access to sensitive technologies.

The letter requested information including the Chinese students' sources of funding, the types of research they're involved in, what schools they previously attended, and "a country-by-country breakdown of applicants, admittances, and enrollments at your university."

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Chinese students account for about one-quarter of all international students in the US and that their activities have promoted "the economic prosperity and technological development of the US."

Mao added: "We urge the US to stop overstretching the concept of national security, effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students, and not impose discriminatory restrictive measures on Chinese students."

Her remarks came a day after John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sent a letter to six colleges requesting information on Chinese students enrolled in advanced science and technology programs. He accused the institutions of putting American research at risk in exchange for financial incentives.

Most Chinese students pay full tuition, making them an important source of funding for many universities. Many students do not remain in the US after graduation and return home to China, often to work with institutions that funded their studies.

The colleges named were Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University, Stanford University, the University of Illinois, the University of Maryland, and the University of Southern California.

ASSOCIATED PRESS