I Prayed have prayed
Lord God, we pray that you would use what may be meant for evil for good--we pray that Chinese students in the U.S. would find Jesus Christ and freedom in Him in record numbers.

America’s plan to catch China in the race to deploy super-fast hypersonic weapons may begin in college classrooms.

Academic leaders, lawmakers, and military and intelligence officials say Washington needs to take a harder look at the number of Chinese who come to the U.S. to study engineering, aeronautics, astronautics, quantum mechanics and other fields that have direct connections to national security. The massive influx of Chinese students in recent years, they say, has led directly to Beijing’s advantage in the development of hypersonics and other cutting-edge technology — though U.S. officials say privately that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to track individual cases of students gaining specific insights in a given area and then taking that knowledge back home.

Pray about the economic war with China! Download our free special report prayer guide.

The issue of China’s “academic espionage” raises delicate questions about discrimination and academic freedom, and the education and military sectors have struggled to strike the right balance between protecting classified research and attracting the diverse, international student base prized by top universities.

(Editor’s note: IFA knows a college administrator who has explained part of the influx of Chinese students in American universities. The declining birth rates in the U.S. have left colleges in crisis–there are more spots for college students than college-age young men and women. So, colleges turn to foreign countries to fill their rolls, sometimes even offering scholarships to entice foreign students.)

The strength and depth of the American higher education system are seen as a strategic asset for the U.S., one that could be weakened if classrooms and research labs are closed to certain populations.

Academic leaders say Washington needs to lead the way in developing a comprehensive strategy to counter China’s long-term efforts to use America’s institutions for its own gain. Relying on individual professors or universities to police themselves, scholars say, is ineffective. . . .

Beijing has also explicitly targeted ethnic Chinese students, entrepreneurs and high-tech researchers working abroad to come home through its Thousand Talents Plan. The effort has become so sensitive that Chinese officials reportedly have been told not to identify the foreign scholars and figures whom they are trying to lure back home.

Hypersonics — weapons or aircraft that can travel at least five times the speed of sound — is one area where China is outpacing the U.S., partly by sending large numbers of its top students to American colleges. Those students often pay full tuition upfront, making them highly coveted in university admissions offices. . . .

In the 2017-2018 academic year, over 360,000 Chinese were studying at American institutions. A decade ago, the figure was 100,000.

Although the vast majority of Chinese students attend school in the U.S. for straightforward academic reasons, others — and in some cases professors — come with close ties to the government in Beijing.

A report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute last year said China’s People’s Liberation Army had paid for at least 2,500 military scientists and engineers to study abroad, including in the U.S.

Comments (3) Print

Comments

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Kathryn
August 24, 2019

Father,
As mentioned above- this is an opportunity. As I have heard about other situations with the immigration issue, the mission field has come to us. You can take what Satan is trying to use for ill and use it to reach the hearts of these students.I pray for the Christian ministries, like CRU, that they would become a strong prayer force on the campuses. Help them to be powered by the Holy Spirit to bring the truth of the gospel to all the students. The universities have become a bastion of the far left but you are able to do a work. I pray for ministries like Ravi Zaccharias and his team who go and share truth in love to the students. Please prepare the hearts and minds of students so that they will be prepared to hear and respond to the truth of your Word. We ask these things in the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Savior.

Rochelle
August 24, 2019

Father God, we invite Your presence on every college campus across the United States of America. Shine forth Your light and Your truth. We pray for the third Great Awakening to begin on college campuses across our nation. Transform hearts and minds and lives in a sweeping demonstration of Your power and glory.
In Jesus name. Amen.

Alexander
August 24, 2019

Yes Lord , we thank you for sending evangelists to win these students to you and disciple them in the work of the gospel while they are in Us schools, and opening their eyes to the evils of their communist government , we loose salvation and liberty, and bind every type of deception and manipulation by the communist government in Jesus name

Partner with Us

Intercessors for America is the trusted resource for millions of people across the United States committed to praying for our nation. If you have benefited from IFA's resources and community, please consider joining us as a monthly support partner. As a 501(c)3 organization, it's through your support that all this possible.

Dave Kubal
IFA President
Become a Monthly Partner

Share

Click below to share this with others

Log in to Join the Conversation

Log in to your IFA account to start a discussion, comment, pray, and interact with our community.