China hits out at ‘malicious’ report that says it used US universities to boost military
Beijing says it has lodged ‘stern representations’ over congressional report calling for measures to counter China’s ‘malign influence’
China hit out on Thursday at a US congressional report that accused it of exploiting American higher education institutions for military research.
Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the ministry, told a regular press briefing that the House China committee had long attacked and smeared China for political purposes and had “no credibility whatsoever”.
“Certain US politicians, by overstretching the concept of national security and disrupting normal US-China exchanges in education and cultural fields, are acting against the will of the people and are doomed to fail,” Guo said.
He added that educational exchanges and cooperation were “mutually beneficial” and could help promote greater understanding and people-to-people ties.
“We urge the US to follow through on President [Donald] Trump’s stated welcome to Chinese students studying in the United States, stop undermining the interests of relevant parties and the overall China-US relationship,” he said.