Safeguarding our nation, our people, and our future should be a top priority of every administration. Yet, recent revelations highlight a troubling breach in these sacred responsibilities. Since 2017, the U.S. Intelligence Community, through the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), has awarded research grants that ended up involving individuals linked to the Chinese government and military institutions. This is a glaring issue that strikes at the heart of our national security.
Let us be clear: collaboration with adversarial nations like China on sensitive defense research is not just risky—it is a direct threat to our sovereignty. The report by Parallax Advanced Research, a nonprofit backed by federal and local governments, underscores how Chinese researchers have been involved in at least 14 U.S. defense projects. These projects are not trivial; they are intended to advance high-risk, high-payoff research that supports our intelligence and defense capabilities.
Imagine the implications of such collaborations. Chinese institutions and personnel, some with ties to the People’s Liberation Army, have been able to access cutting-edge research funded by American taxpayers. This includes attempts to reverse-engineer U.S. technologies for China’s own military and surveillance purposes. Such actions are not mere oversights; they are deliberate strategies by China’s intelligence apparatus to infiltrate and exploit our technological advancements.
IRPA stated, “These studies reveal a deliberate effort by China’s intelligence and public security apparatus, alongside military-affiliated entities, to extract lessons, methodologies, and technical knowledge from IARPA-funded programs,” the report warns. “This includes attempts to reverse-engineer research outputs, replicate experimental designs, and adapt [U.S. Intelligence Community] technologies for use in China’s mass surveillance apparatus and strategic military capabilities.”
“What I found most concerning was the sheer number of IARPA funded projects that IARPA itself describes as having clear Intelligence Community value that have involved — and in some cases continue to involve — Chinese institutions and companies, including personnel directly tied to the [People’s Liberation Army],” said L.J. Eads, director of research intelligence at Parallax.
One troubling example is the BRIAR Program, intended to develop biometric detection and tracking software. The lead investigator for this project was found to have ongoing collaborations with Chinese institutions involved in military research. This is not just a lapse in judgment—it’s a breach of trust that puts our national security at risk. The investigator’s simultaneous work with Chinese entities raises serious concerns about where loyalties lie and how secure our innovations truly are.
Furthermore, the BABEL Program, developed to enhance speech recognition technologies, has seen its datasets used in Chinese research publications. This is not just a transfer of knowledge; it’s a transfer of power. The Chinese Communist Party, through the PLA, seeks to counterbalance the United States strategically and militarily. By 2027, China’s goal is to achieve a strategic counterbalance against us, and every piece of technology they acquire from us brings them closer to that goal.
The involvement of the China Academy of Engineering Physics (CAEP) in IARPA’s LogiQ program is another red flag. CAEP, responsible for China’s nuclear weapons research, being part of a program aimed at advancing quantum computing, is like handing over the keys to our future in technology. Quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize encryption and cybersecurity, and its exposure to adversarial nations could compromise our military and intelligence communications.
This report is a wake-up call to the American people and our leaders. We must demand stricter oversight and tighter controls over who participates in our defense research programs. Researchers with ties to adversarial nations should be barred from accessing sensitive information that could harm our country.
Our Constitution provides for a government that protects its people and ensures their liberty. It is imperative that we hold our agencies accountable to these principles. The stakes are too high, and the cost of complacency is too great. We must act swiftly and decisively to safeguard our technological edge and national security.
As steadfast defenders of our republic, let us rally together to demand transparency, integrity, and unwavering commitment to the security of our nation. We owe it to ourselves, to future generations, and to the legacy of liberty that defines us as Americans.
