Originally published April 23, 2023 5:40 am PDT
Stanford University has received over $27 million from Chinese sources since 2021, highlighting the growing concern over the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence on American colleges, according to a report from The Washington Free Beacon.
Data from the Education Department reveals 42 donations in 2021 and early 2022, although the exact sources remain undisclosed.
Stanford has not provided further information about the donations or its collaborations with China.
With millions of dollars flowing to U.S. universities from China, institutions like Stanford could face scrutiny from Congress, as the Republican-controlled House investigates Chinese influence.
The University of Delaware, home to the Biden Institute, has accepted over $6 million from China since 2017, Free Beacon notes.
U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN), said, “Colleges are likely pocketing even more than reported. Even worse, the Biden administration shut down all ongoing investigations into the Chinese Communist Party’s influence efforts at our universities.”
The member of the House Select Committee on China added, “House Republicans need to force Joe Biden’s hand and pass legislation to crack down on foreign influence at our universities.”
Banks believes the increase in Chinese funding for American schools occurred because the Biden administration stopped enforcing reporting regulations on foreign gifts and donations.
China expert at the American Foreign Policy Council Michael Sobolik stated that American higher education “is addicted to funding from China.”
He went on to say that this money facilitates “espionage, IP theft, and censorship” within U.S. colleges.
Despite receiving significant funding from the Pentagon for various research projects, concerns over China’s influence at Stanford persist.
Banks commented, “It’s outrageous that schools like Stanford are taking millions from Beijing while partnering with [the Defense Department].”