China Investing in Global Talent Recruitment Programs to Steal Foreign Tech, Report Says
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute released an Aug. 20 report on China’s increasing use of global talent recruitment programs to steal technology and intellectual property from universities and companies around the world. The report details how the practice helps China leverage “foreign technology and expertise” and how it can be combated, especially as China seeks to “shift the balance of power” within the technology industry away from the U.S.
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The ASPI argues that research institutions should better audit staff participation in “foreign talent recruitment programs” and security agencies should focus on investigating illegal conduct related to talent recruitment. Governments can also provide more funding to support domestic retention of talent and technology and should regularly brief universities on foreign talent recruitment programs and disclosure requirements.
China’s Foreign Ministry called the report inaccurate, and a spokesperson said the U.S. government has financially supported ASPI, which he said is “the laughing stock of the international community,” during an Aug. 21 news conference, according to an unofficial translation of the transcript. The spokesperson said countries should “treat China's development objectively and rationally.” The list of sponsors of the institute, listed on the ASPI website, includes: Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.