Harvard faces GOP backlash over ties to sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group
- House Republicans sent a letter demanding details from Harvard regarding training for a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group implicated in human rights abuses.
- The letter points out Harvard's potential violations of U.S. sanctions and raises alarms over university collaborations with military-linked Chinese institutions.
- The GOP leaders threaten to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, highlighting national security risks tied to university partnerships with foreign governments.
On May 19, 2025, in the United States, three House Republican leaders sent a letter to Harvard University concerning allegations of training members from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a Chinese paramilitary organization sanctioned by the U.S. for its involvement in the Uyghur genocide. The inquiry raises significant national security concerns, asserting that Harvard's partnerships with such entities might violate U.S. laws. The letter calls for comprehensive documentation and detailed explanations for research collaborations involving Chinese and Iranian institutions that could impact military capabilities. The U.S. lawmakers expressed alarm over Harvard's receipt of funding from the Department of Defense for joint research with Chinese universities linked to military applications. They detailed specific examples highlighting that between 2020 and 2024, Harvard researchers participated in multiple projects funded by the Iranian National Science Foundation, which is subject to U.S. sanctions. This pattern of collaboration with both China and Iran is viewed as a disturbing trend that could potentially compromise U.S. national security. In response to the inquiry, Harvard confirmed receipt of the letter and indicated it would provide a detailed response. The congressional leaders emphasized that universities should not enable adversaries to gain insights into U.S. military strategies or contribute to their military capabilities. They expressed urgency in receiving answers from Harvard, setting a compliance deadline of June 2, 2025. The ongoing investigation into Harvard's foreign partnerships is perceived as part of a broader Republican push to scrutinize the influence of foreign powers in U.S. educational institutions. The looming threat to Harvard's nonprofit status adds pressure on the university to ensure that its operations and collaborations align with U.S. legal standards and ethical considerations regarding human rights and national security.