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The "seven sons of national defense"

The "Seven Sons of National Defense" refers to seven Chinese universities who are closely affiliated with the defense industry of the People's Republic of China.  While these are not "military" universities, they are civilian universities which are heavily involved with research associated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, and thus, the military of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  These universities often rely on research done by other universities, such as those in the United States, which they can then use toward the benefit of their own military.   These seven universities are as follows:

1.Beihang University in Haidian, Beijing

2.Beijing Institute of Technology in Haidian, Beijing

3.Harbin Engineering University in Harbin, Heilongjiang

4.Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, Heilongjiang

5.Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Nanjing, Jiangsu

6.Nanjing University of Science and Technology in Nanjing, Jiangsu

7.Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xi'an, Shaanxi

China's Military-Civil Fusion Strategy:

According to the , "Military-Civil Fusion is a national strategy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to develop the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a “world class military” by 2049. Under MCF, the CCP is acquiring the intellectual property, key research, and technological advances of the world’s citizens, researchers, scholars, and private industry in order to advance the CCP’s military aims. The CCP is systematically reorganizing the Chinese science and technology enterprise to ensure that new innovations simultaneously advance economic and military development. PRC President and CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping personally oversees the strategy’s implementation. He chairs the CCP’s Central Military Commission and the Central Commission for Military-Civil Fusion Development."

While the aforementioned "Seven Sons" universities are especially aligned with this strategy, they are by no means the only ones.  There are many other universities in China which also play an active role in the PLA's military and defense research. Emerging and critical technologies in particular, are being targeted by this Military-Civil Fusion strategy.  Some of these technologies include: Quantum Computing, Big Data, Semiconductors, 5G, Advanced Nuclear Technology, Aerospace Technology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), just to name a few.  

Chinese Talent Plans:

One of the ways the CCP best employs their Military-Civil Fusion strategy is through the use of Talent Plans, or Talent Programs.  According to the , "While various countries use talent plans, the Chinese government is the most prolific sponsor of these programs—and the United States is one of China’s main targets... American businesses, universities, and laboratories should understand the potential risks and illegal conduct incentivized by Chinese talent plans and take steps to safeguard their trade secrets and intellectual property."  

Chinese talent programs have successfully recruited individuals from locations spanning the globe, and in many different colleges and universities.  These individuals are affiliated with key technologies and military-centered research such as nuclear technology, aerospace, advanced lasers, etc.  

Here in Texas, due to the Governor's Executive Order GA-48, it is not permissible for University personnel to coordinate or collaborate with any foreign adversary for official research, nor especially, participate in a foreign adversary's talent program (MFTRP).  However, researchers (and all personnel) should exercise caution to ensure they are not (even unwittingly) granting individuals access to their protected research, who may be affiliated with one of these Talent Programs; as even passively exchanged information could be used for the benefit of the military of a foreign adversary.

Iranian Influence in US Universities

After decades of sanctions against the Iranian governernment, Iran is targeting US and world academic institutions in order to get around these sanctions and support their military and nuclear ambitions.  Because these sanctions often include barriers to international research collaboration and conference participation, they have left Iran isolated academically from the rest of the world.  This has particularly hampered Iran's ability to conduct innovative research in fields such as aerospace, engineering, nuclear physics, and AI.  In order to combat this, Iran has conducted intelligence and cyber operations against academic institutions both in the US and elswhere.  According to the FBI, one of the ways in which the Iranian government has infiltrated US universities has been through omission or fabrication of biographic and academic details in resumes, such as omitting previous IRGC affiliation. 

Iran's Targeting of Dual-Use Technologies

Dual-use technologies are materials, equipment, and information or know-how which can have both civilian and military uses. While these technologies are at risk of being stolen by various countries, one particularly high risk is from Iran. With the help of third party countries like China, in order to booster Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Iran makes use of front companies and illicit procurement networks, in order to acquire these dual-use technologies. Through these companies, networks, and third party countries, Iran seeks to get around certain export regulations imposed by both the EU and the US. Some of the dual-use technologies targeted by Iran include: Ultrasonic Sensors, Diodes, and Oxygen Sensors.