US charges Kansas researcher Feng ‘Franklin’ Tao over ties to Chinese university
- Associate professor allegedly concealed that he was working full-time for Fuzhou University while conducting research funded by US government
- Indictment comes amid increased concern by US officials about the risk from China to US universities
A researcher at the University of Kansas was indicted on federal fraud charges on Wednesday for allegedly concealing ties to a Chinese university while doing research funded by the US government, the US Justice Department said.
Feng “Franklin” Tao, 47, an associate professor at a University of Kansas centre that conducts sustainable technology research, was charged with one count of wire fraud and three counts of programme fraud.
The indictment comes amid increased concern by US officials about the risk from China to US universities, part of a broader effort by US President Donald Trump’s administration to confront Beijing over what Washington sees as the use of sometimes illicit methods for acquiring rapid technological advancement.
Intelligence officials have issued dire warnings about the threat of intellectual property theft or even espionage, amid an ongoing trade war with China. China denies such activities.
US authorities said Tao hid the fact that he was working full-time for Fuzhou University in China while conducting research at the University of Kansas funded through US Department of Energy and National Science Foundation contracts.