Chinese Investment Firm Funded By Yale and Princeton Buys Slice of Shanghai Tech Company That Works With China's Military

Recent news highlights concerns regarding U. S. universities investing in a Chinese biotech company linked to the military and human rights abuses. The focus is on the investments made by prestigious institutions like Yale and Princeton, and the implications for U. S.-China relations.

1. Investment Details:

• Hillhouse Investment Management, a Chinese firm backed by Yale and Princeton, purchased part of WuXi AppTec, a company involved with the Chinese military and accused of aiding Beijing in identifying Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

2. Background of WuXi AppTec:

• Lawmakers, including former Congressman Mike Gallagher, criticized WuXi AppTec for operating genetic testing centers linked to the People's Liberation Army (PLA), which they argue is fundamental to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) policies that have led to the genocide of Uyghurs.

3. University Involvement:

• Major American universities, including Yale, have invested significant sums in Hillhouse, with Yale reportedly receiving high returns on its investments.

• Concerns have grown in Congress about U. S. funds inadvertently supporting Chinese aggression and human rights violations, prompting calls for stronger regulations on university investments in China.

4. Legislative Response:

• House Speaker Mike Johnson and other lawmakers advocate for stopping investments that support China’s military efforts.

• Proposed legislation, such as Rep. Greg Murphy's Protecting Endowments From Our Adversaries Act, seeks to impose taxes on university endowment investments in Chinese firms.

5. Hillhouse's Compromising Links:

• Hillhouse has been scrutinized for its involvement in technology companies tied to human rights abuses in China, including Yitu Technology, which has been blacklisted by the U. S.

• The founder, Lei Zhang, has a history of strong ties to Yale and links to the CCP.

6. Broader Context:

• The Chinese government has detained approximately one million Uyghurs in reeducation camps since 2017, associating these actions with severe human rights violations, leading to the U. S. labeling it as genocide in 2021.

The financial links between prestigious U. S. universities and a Chinese company with military ties raise serious ethical and political questions. As Congress seeks to address these issues, the implications for U. S.-China relations and university investment strategies could be significant, demanding careful scrutiny and action from stakeholders. 

https://freebeacon.com/china/chinese-investment-firm-funded-by-yale-and-princeton-buys-slice-of-shanghai-tech-company-that-works-with-chinas-military/