Mastriano Seeks to Release Thesis

In a recent legal development, a motion to intervene and unseal records related to a case involving Stanford University and its ties to Fudan University has been filed by Eugene Volokh, a law professor at UCLA. Volokh's motion has drawn scrutiny, particularly regarding his standing to intervene, as he is perceived to be acting on behalf of Stanford, which has been criticized for its connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Critics argue that Volokh's intervention is motivated by financial interests tied to his university's funding sources. Fudan University, a leading Chinese research institution, has been under the spotlight due to its partnership with Stanford, which includes co-directing the Fudan-Stanford Institute for China Financial Technology and Risk Analytics. In 2019, Fudan amended its charter to align with CCP leadership, raising concerns about the implications of its research on U.S. national security. The CCP's influence over Fudan is seen as a potential threat to the military and economic capabilities of the U.S. and its allies. Volokh's legal standing has been challenged, with arguments suggesting that he lacks a direct stake in the Pennsylvania election context relevant to the case. His claims of interest in the matter are viewed as tenuous, given his California residency and the nature of his employer's funding. The response to his motion includes various substantive points, though critics maintain that these arguments are not particularly compelling. As the case unfolds, the implications of foreign influence in American academic institutions remain a critical concern, particularly in light of NATO's recent warnings regarding the People's Republic of China.