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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| US in move that may bar foreign (Chinese) researchers |
| 2005-11-24 |
| The US government is poised to propose rules that could restrict the ability of Chinese and other foreign nationals to engage in high-level research in the country, a plan that is generating fierce opposition from companies and universities. The move comes amid growing fears in the US that its relatively open rules allowing foreign nationals to work with sensitive technologies leave the country open to espionage. Law enforcement and intelligence officials fear China in particular could be using some of its more than 150,000 students in the US to spy on behalf of Beijing. In a few weeks, the commerce department is expected to respond to a report by its inspector-general, which warned of the espionage risks last year. The inspector-general’s proposal called for an expansion of the rules that restrict the sharing of advanced technologies with foreign nationals. Under existing law, companies or universities are required to seek a government export licence if they allow citizens from controlled countries, most prominently China, to engage in research involving technologies with potential military uses. But licences are not required if a Chinese national becomes a citizen or a permanent resident in another country – such as Canada or the UK – which is not subject to stringent US export controls. There are particular concerns about the tens of thousands of Chinese who have taken out citizenship in countries that exchange technology freely with the US... About damn time. For years, Chinese who already hold advanced degrees have been coming to the US and taking the same or lesser degree here to get into a school's research graduate program. Many of these high tech programs have become "fully Chinese", and no longer allow in non-Chinese graduate students. From there, they have access to tons of proprietary and classified documents, much of which is pipelined to China. And unlike other foreign students, only a small percentage of them remain in the US, unless they get work in some highly sensitive technology in a university, a corporation, or the US government. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #2 And not a moment too soon! |
| Posted by: Zenster 2005-11-24 23:14 |
| #1 Excellent! Someone, Bush of course, taking the threat seriously. I'll bet ol' Dollar Bill is beside himself. Expect some sort of drivel speech. The outcry is wonderful, IMHO - especially that portion emanating from the Universities who would sell your grandmother, and theirs, for a buck. Should this be applied to certain Olde Europeans, Russians, etc. as well? |
| Posted by: .com 2005-11-24 23:02 |