3 ms·

While it seems reasonable to try to stop the Chinese government from unduly influencing US institutions, I am sincerely worried this is just going to turn into

While it seems reasonable to try to stop the Chinese government from unduly influencing US institutions, I am sincerely worried this is just going to turn into a witch hunt against Chinese nationals in the US on student and work visas.

SpicyLemonZest 6y ago
It's a reasonable worry, but even the strongest anti-China voices seem to agree that Chinese nationals are wonderful people who are being oppressed by an evil government. And I'm optimistic that in the worst case support for Taiwan will prevent it from devolving into race-based targeting.
mariodiana 6y ago
Undoubtedly, though, we will find some witches among them.
- throwawayalways 6y ago
  what do you suggest to do with these 'witches'? lmao
themodelplumber 6y ago
Correct me if I'm wrong, but given that we as an American institution have some witch hunts in our past, we ought to be able to carry those lessons forward and integrate them into a framework which minimizes chances of becoming a witch hunt. Additionally, given the parameters listed in the article: The sanctions approach won't touch Chinese students or workers who are in the US on visas. Even the moves against Confucius Institutes don't touch individual students. It seems like a good start if the idea is to avoid individual false-positives and also blunt the Magic Weapons philosophy.
- currymj 6y ago
  The policies proposed in this editorial seem pretty tame, but they aren’t all the policies being put forward on this issue. A recent executive order does target individual students who come from universities with military ties, even though many of these schools have mostly civilian students. The recent prosecutions of scientists who failed to disclose Chinese funding on grant applications did uncover some real malfeasance but could easily turn into a witch hunt as well.
- xellisx 6y ago
  Have you not learned that we haven't learned anything?

SpicyLemonZest 6y ago

It's a reasonable worry, but even the strongest anti-China voices seem to agree that Chinese nationals are wonderful people who are being oppressed by an evil government. And I'm optimistic that in the worst case support for Taiwan will prevent it from devolving into race-based targeting.

mariodiana 6y ago

Undoubtedly, though, we will find some witches among them.

throwawayalways 6y ago
what do you suggest to do with these 'witches'? lmao

themodelplumber 6y ago

Correct me if I'm wrong, but given that we as an American institution have some witch hunts in our past, we ought to be able to carry those lessons forward and integrate them into a framework which minimizes chances of becoming a witch hunt. Additionally, given the parameters listed in the article: The sanctions approach won't touch Chinese students or workers who are in the US on visas. Even the moves against Confucius Institutes don't touch individual students. It seems like a good start if the idea is to avoid individual false-positives and also blunt the Magic Weapons philosophy.

currymj 6y ago
The policies proposed in this editorial seem pretty tame, but they aren’t all the policies being put forward on this issue. A recent executive order does target individual students who come from universities with military ties, even though many of these schools have mostly civilian students. The recent prosecutions of scientists who failed to disclose Chinese funding on grant applications did uncover some real malfeasance but could easily turn into a witch hunt as well.
xellisx 6y ago
Have you not learned that we haven't learned anything?