Bills Limiting Chinese Nationals From Getting Education at UW Schools Passes State Senate

Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 -- 11:01 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) A package of bills that would limit Chinese nationals from getting education at UW schools passed the State Senate on Tuesday.

Republicans say the bills will help stop Chinese intellectual property theft, but Democrat Senator Jon Erpenbach says that sort of investigation should be left to the federal government. "It's a waste of our tax dollars. It's not going to do anything close to what the Senators from the 19th and the 21st have said it's going to do. It's simply not."

State Senator Bill Wirch says it's only trying to rile up fears. "And I think the legislation from the Senator from the 19th, all 3 bills, is nothing but playing to a small group of people in a base."

Other provisions in the bills would limit cultural exchanges with Chinese nationals, and require the UW-System to find out if potential incoming students were members of the People's Liberation Army.

The bills would also prohibit cultural exchange programs and would prevent UW programs from working with quote "Chinese recruitment programs". Another bill would limit the amount of work contracted UW-System researchers do with other institutions.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.