Texas A&M professor secretly worked for China while researching for NASA, feds say
A Texas A&M University professor is accused of secretly working for China while researching for NASA, federal prosecutors say.
Zhengdong Cheng was arrested Sunday on charges of conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
He hid connections and collaboration with a state-owned Chinese university and company while leading a research team for NASA, prosecutors say. Terms of Cheng’s grant funding prohibited him from participating, collaborating or coordinating with China, officials say.
Cheng, a professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M, did not respond to an email from McClatchy News seeking comment Monday.
“China is building an economy and academic institutions with bricks stolen from others all around the world,” U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick said in a news release. “While 1.4 million foreign researchers and academics are here in the U.S. for the right reasons, the Chinese Talents Program exploits our open and free universities.”
Prosecutors say Cheng benefited from his affiliation with Texas A&M and NASA with increased access to resources such as the International Space Station. That elevated his standing at the Guangdong University of Technology and other schools in the country, prosecutors say. Cheng held top research positions in the country and served in its talent program, prosecutors say.
The U.S. government accuses China of using the talent programs to exploit research institutions.
“NASA’s funding restrictions are in place to protect taxpayer-financed research dollars and intellectual property,” Special Agent in Charge Mark Zielinski, NASA Office of Inspector General - Eastern Field Office, said in the news release. “We will continue to pursue anyone who attempts to circumvent these guidelines and conceal affiliations with Chinese institutions and companies in order to obtain NASA grant money.”