A Republican-led congressional committee focused on US competition with China has issued a public call for American academics to come forward if they think they missed out on jobs in favour of “applicants from China”.
“Are you an American student, postdoctoral researcher, or academic who believes you were denied a research position, laboratory opportunity, or postdoctoral appointment because preference was given to applicants from China?” the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.
The committee urged those with “first-hand” information or supporting documentation to contact it through its whistle-blower email.
The appeal drew fierce backlash, with critics warning that singling out Chinese applicants risked further fuelling anti-Chinese sentiment.
Kaiser Kuo, host of The Sinica Podcast, called the move a “disgrace”.
He wrote on social media: “Really? THIS is what they’re worried about? … At a time when racial profiling is driving talent away from American shores and harming US competitiveness, they want to stir up anti-Chinese grievance?”