Harvard Allegations of Ties to Chinese Military and Human Rights Abusers Stir Controversy

[Social Media]

 

Harvard Under Fire: Allegations of Ties to Chinese Military and Human Rights Abusers Stir Controversy

 

Harvard University is facing intense scrutiny from Republican lawmakers who accuse the institution of collaborating with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), providing training to sanctioned paramilitary groups, and engaging in research partnerships that could jeopardize U.S. national security. In a sharply worded letter addressed to Harvard and signed by Representatives John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg, and Elise Stefanik, the university is charged with working alongside Chinese military-linked universities and researchers associated with oppressive regimes, including Iran.

 

“Harvard trained members of a sanctioned Chinese paramilitary group responsible for genocide, and its researchers partnered with Chinese military universities on DoD-funded research and worked with researchers funded by the Iranian regime,” said John Moolenaar, chairman of the House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party. “These are not isolated incidents — they represent a disturbing pattern that puts US national security at risk.”

 

This marks a new escalation in Republican attacks on Harvard, already targeted by the Trump administration over accusations of “fostering antisemitism” amid rising pro-Palestinian activism on campus. The new letter revives longstanding anxieties about Western academic engagement with China, an issue that has also raised alarms in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

 

At the heart of the allegations is Harvard’s purported relationship with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), a quasi-military Chinese organization sanctioned by the U.S. in 2020 due to its alleged role in human rights abuses against the Uighur population in Xinjiang. According to the Republican lawmakers, Harvard hosted XPCC delegates for training programs and conferences as recently as last year.

 

The letter claims that Harvard sought to obscure its involvement with XPCC, ceasing to mention the group in public statements and even blurring out names in official photographs. In contrast, Chinese media reports openly acknowledged XPCC representatives’ participation.

 

Beyond XPCC, the lawmakers allege Harvard collaborated with Chinese institutions connected to the “Seven Sons of National Defence,” a group of military-run universities tied to China’s Ministry of Defense. These institutions are known for conducting research with potential military applications, raising the specter of “dual-use” science—research with both civilian and military potential—being shared with a strategic rival.

 

The letter also highlights Harvard’s joint work with scientists whose research received funding from the Iranian regime. “We have found several instances in which Harvard University aided and even collaborated with the CCP — including helping Chinese researchers on military projects funded by the Iranian government,” Walberg said. “This is unacceptable.”

 

Further accusations involve research into organ transplant technologies conducted in partnership with Chinese scientists. The Chinese government has long faced international condemnation over allegations that organs have been harvested from executed prisoners, including ethnic and religious minorities. While no direct evidence from the Harvard collaborations has been disclosed, the associations alone have prompted ethical concerns.

Harvard declined to comment on the allegations when approached by its student newspaper, The Crimson, although it confirmed receipt of the lawmakers’ letter.

 

The congressional report raises the possibility of re-evaluating Harvard’s tax-exempt status, suggesting that activities which appear to aid sanctioned foreign entities could be incompatible with its nonprofit mission. “Assisting known, sanctioned paramilitary human rights abusers in developing policy and advancing their foreign military capabilities may undermine Harvard’s non-profit mission,” the letter stated.

 

As the debate unfolds, Harvard finds itself caught in the crossfire of larger geopolitical tensions and domestic political battles. The outcome may have far-reaching implications not only for the university’s funding and reputation, but also for how American academic institutions engage with foreign powers going forward.

 

Related Topics:

Harvard Acknowledges Deep Antisemitism Crisis Following Scathing Internal Report

Harvard’s Shift: How Islamist Influence Took Root on Campus

Behind the Curtain: Harvard’s Quiet Courtship with Trump Before Its Bold Rejection

Harvard Becomes Resistance HQ in Trump’s Campus Culture War

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-22