Stanford student paper reveals China’s efforts to infiltrate university, steal research

• The Stanford Review exposes systematic efforts by the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate Stanford University, targeting its cutting-edge research in AI, robotics and other critical technologies.
• The report details cases like “Charles Chen,” a suspected Chinese intelligence operative who posed as a student to coerce researchers (e.g., pressuring them to visit China and delete communications). Other cases include Chen Song, a Stanford researcher indicted for hiding her PLA ties and sending research to Chinese entities.
• China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law compels cooperation with state intelligence, and 15 percent of Chinese students in the U.S. receive funding from the China Scholarship Council (CSC), which requires “situation reports” on their research. Some comply under duress or for career incentives.
• Stanford claims to prioritize national security but faces criticism for slow action, partly due to fears of racial bias accusations. The DOJ’s disbanded China Initiative previously countered such threats, but its end may have emboldened Beijing.
• Experts warn China’s theft of U.S. research fuels its Made in China 2025 ambitions, with former FBI Director Wray calling it a “massive wealth transfer.” Without stronger safeguards, American innovation risks falling into adversarial hands.

The Stanford Review, the student-run newspaper of Stanford University in California, has published a bombshell report revealing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) efforts to infiltrate the institution.

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanford has long been a global leader in cutting-edge research – particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and other frontier technologies. This has made it a prime target for Beijing’s intelligence-gathering efforts, according to a May 7 piece by the Review.

The report was based on interviews with professors, students and China experts. It reveals a systematic campaign of surveillance, coercion and theft of sensitive research, and raises urgent questions about national security and academic integrity.

The Review found multiple cases of suspected espionage conducted by CCP operatives, with the case of one “Charles Chen” – believed to be an agent of China’s Ministry of State Security – featuring prominently in the piece. Chen reportedly posed as a Stanford student to target researchers, approaching one student named Anna (a pseudonym).

Chen reached out to Anna, initially feigning academic interest before pressuring her to visit China. He even offered to cover Anna’s expenses and urged her to delete their communications. Authorities later confirmed Chen had no Stanford affiliation; instead, he had spent years using false identities to target students, particularly women studying China-related topics.

Experts believe operatives like Chen are tasked with identifying sympathetic researchers and extracting valuable technological insights. The tactics are not isolated, however.

Beijing turning students into spies

China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law mandates that all citizens, including students abroad, cooperate with state intelligence efforts. According to the Review, an estimated 15 percent of Chinese students at U.S. universities receive funding from the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) – which is under the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The CSC requires recipients to submit regular “situation reports” on their research to Chinese diplomatic missions. Some students comply reluctantly for fear of repercussions for their families back home. Others actively collaborate, viewing it as an opportunity for career advancement.

One alarming case involved Chen Song, a researcher at Stanford who was indicted in 2020 for concealing her affiliation with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Prosecutors alleged she destroyed evidence and sent research updates to a Chinese government entity. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) described Song’s actions as part of a broader pattern of Beijing exploiting American academic openness. (Related: Connection revealed between Communist China and Stanford: Researcher exposed as Chinese military officer.)

Stanford has acknowledged the risks in a statement, stating it takes national security “with the utmost seriousness” and collaborates with federal agencies to safeguard research. Yet critics argue the university like other institutions, has been slow to act – partly due to fears of being labeled racist.

The DOJ’s China Initiative, a federal program to counter espionage, was disbanded in 2022 after accusations of racial profiling. According to some experts, its dissolution emboldened Beijing’s efforts.

The stakes are high, with former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray warning that China’s theft of U.S. research represents “one of the largest transfers of wealth in human history.” Given this, American universities remain vulnerable targets under Beijing’s Made in China 2025 plan that aims for technological dominance.

The Review‘s findings underscore a harsh reality. Unless U.S. institutions and policymakers confront the issue head-on, the very innovations that drive national security and economic strength may continue slipping into the hands of a geopolitical rival.

Visit CommunistChina.news for more similar stories.

Watch Ava Chen of the New Federated State of China warning that the CCP’s National Security Council is sending spies to America in this clip.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Harvard’s Charles Lieber arrested for treason with communist China.

Chinese student arrested for omitting link to PLA-backed university in F-1 visa application.

Federal probe into UC Berkeley’s concealed Chinese funding reveals national security breach.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

StanfordReview.org

News.Stanford.edu

Brighteon.com