Breitbart Event on China’s Threats
On Thursday, Breitbart News hosted a policy event focused on the threats posed by China and the Chinese Communist Party. The conversation included topics like intellectual property theft and incidents involving U.S. universities and research institutions.
The event, titled “China: Known and Unknown Threats,” featured a discussion led by Washington Bureau Chief Matt Boyle. He inquired about how the Chinese Communist Party uses intellectual property theft to extend its influence and its targeting of the U.S., particularly in relation to American companies, universities, and researchers.
Professor Cotton responded emphatically, stating, “It’s rampant. The FBI has mentioned numerous cold cases they have, including in places like Arkansas. For instance, there are indictments against individuals for stealing advanced rice genome technology, with a professor from the University of Arkansas involved in collusion with China.”
He further explained that these instances are not mere isolated cases but part of a wider trend, asserting, “Most of these instances are successful, and they are aware of what they’re doing.”
Cotton pointed to a cultural issue within U.S. academia, suggesting that this openness may contribute to vulnerabilities. “I believe much of this arises from a kind of naive academic mentality, like open science,” he remarked.
The senator raised concerns beyond just universities, highlighting federally funded research facilities as well. “Unfortunately, similar issues occur in our national laboratories. You’d be shocked by the number of Chinese and Russian nationals present at the Department of Energy’s labs under the pretense of open science,” Cotton noted.
He contrasted this openness with China’s approach, stating, “Last I checked, not a single scientist from our country has been sent to the equivalent of a national laboratory in China.”
Cotton underscored that the core of the problem lies in a lack of security awareness. “Once again, that’s because there isn’t a security mindset in our labs or institutions like the National Science Foundation or most universities,” he said.
While recognizing the skills of researchers and academics, Cotton suggested they might benefit from additional viewpoints to tackle national security threats. “They have numerous Ph.D.s doing excellent work. Perhaps they could use someone, like a veteran from the FBI or CIA, to help them grasp the reality of Chinese espionage and its implications for their work.”
