Democrats warn of possible reinvigoration of Trump-era China initiative

A group of Congressional Democrats is urging lawmakers to block the revival of the China Initiative, a program run under former President Trump. Some have claimed that the program racially profiles scientists and academics of Asian descent in the United States.

The program, aimed at stopping China from stealing scientific and technological secrets, expires in 2022.

“The Trump-era China Initiative undermines our nation’s scientific innovation and global partnerships, while perpetuating the stereotype of the ‘permanent foreigner’ and exposing innocent scholars to investigation simply because they are of Chinese descent. and destroyed their careers and lives,” Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said in a statement.

In a letter first shared with NBC News on Monday, Chu and other lawmakers pointed to language in the House spending bill that calls for re-establishing the China Initiative.

In addition to Chu, Democratic Rep. Grace Meng of New York and Sen. Maisie Hirono of Hawaii are also leading the charge in arguing that restarting the program would be a “setback for civil rights.”

“During the more than three years that this system existed, federal prosecutors have charged dozens of people with various types of fraud and conspiracy, acting as agents of foreign governments, illegal exporting, money laundering, and other crimes. We have filed charges,” the deputies said. letter.

“Chinese Americans and Chinese researchers and scholars who have made valuable contributions to this country’s science, technology, and academia for decades are being targeted in racial profiling campaigns. “They reported that they felt that they had a similar feeling and that they were afraid to conduct research,” the lawmakers added.

The letter was released after Republican lawmakers on the Appropriations, Commerce, Judiciary, Science, and Related Agencies subcommittee issued a brief on HR 5893 calling ending the program “irresponsible” and “unwise.”

“This decision is an example of the weakness of a Justice Department that cares more about being politically correct than protecting the American people, and is an example of the weakness of a Department of Justice that cares more about being politically correct than protecting the American people, and is an example of the weakness of a Department of Justice that cares more about being politically correct than protecting the American people, and is an example of the weakness of a Department of Justice that values ​​political correctness over the protection of the American people, and is an example of the weakness of a Department of Justice that values ​​political correctness over the protection of the American people, and joins other federal governments who have taken action in recognition of the extraordinary long-term threat that China poses to the United States.” This is in stark contrast to the actions of government agencies.” The letter said the explanatory materials had the word “U.S.” written on them.

The document also called on the Justice Department’s National Security Division to reestablish a bureau focused on countering Chinese espionage and influence over U.S. businesses, research institutions, and academia.

Meng, first vice chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the plan allowed the Justice Department to “direct hostility, suspicion, and bias against Asian American researchers and scholars.”

“This was not only an attack on academic freedom; it was another expression of anti-Asian sentiment and scapegoating in the United States,” Meng said. “The China Initiative was done at the expense of innocent Asian Americans by questioning their loyalties and reinforcing negative and harmful stereotypes. We cannot go back to this.”

NBC News reported that several Asian American academics and scientists were falsely accused of espionage under the plan. In 2021, the nonprofit Committee of 100 reported that more than 50% of Chinese scientists in the United States “feel significant fear or anxiety” about being under government surveillance.

In the letter, Democrats said they “recognize the paramount importance of national security and the threats to it,” but added that the budget “expresses our priorities and values.”

“Protecting national security and intellectual property is important, but codified discrimination is not the answer,” said Hirono, director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“At a time when anti-Asian hate and violence continues to permeate our nation, we will do everything in our power to prevent a plot like this based on racism and xenophobia from happening again. I have to.”

Ms. Meng, Ms. Chu and Mr. Hirono were joined by 12 other Congressional leaders, including Representative Adam Schiff (California), Senator Tammy Duckworth (Illinois), and Senator Raphael Warnock (Georgia). They also requested that this clause be deleted. From the bill.