American universities are warning that rules proposed by the United States Defence Department and expected soon from the Commerce Department could hurt research by limiting the ability of foreign-born students and technicians to work with sensitive technology in laboratories.According to the Institute of International Education, 565,000 foreign students were enrolled last year at UScolleges and universities. The largest number of them, 80,466, came from India, with China in second place at 62,523.It is this body of Chinese students in the US that is believed to be one target of the proposed rules because Chinese intelligence officials are strongly seeking American technology for military use, experts in the field said.The rules govern the use of software, equipment or technical data that has military applications and cannot be exported to certain countries without a license. A similar license is required when the same sensitive technology is used by a foreign citizen in an American laboratory, on the ground that such a foreigner might return to his home country and reproduce the technology there.Universities argue that tight restrictions on research by foreigners could backfire and actually hurt national security by hindering scientific progress. “The impact on research could be very serious,” Barry Toiv, of the Association of American Universities, said. “The bottom line is that research that benefits both our economy and our national security just won't happen.” —NYT
