China

US Drops Case Against MIT Professor Accused of Hiding China Ties

JAN 20 2022·Updated JAN 4 2023

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Image credit: MSNBC via Reuters

The Facts

Prosecutors have moved to drop the case against an MIT professor accused of hiding research conducted for the Chinese government.
Axios
Gang Chen was accused of hiding China affiliations when applying for $2.7M in grants from the Dept. of Energy in 2017.
Business Insider
MIT Faculty argued that the allegations against Chen contained deeply flawed and misleading statements.
MIT Faculty Newsletter
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has now stated that her office can't meet the burden of proof at trial.
Business Insider

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-China narrative

The 'China Initiative' is a xenophobic witch hunt that undermines America's scientific research and international image. It's nothing more than a tool for discriminating against China by abusing the concept of national security.

Global Times

Anti-China narrative

Although the government must avoid racial profiling, the program has resulted in many high-profile convictions, suggesting that concerns over intellectual property theft are warranted.