Andrei Sakharov Award talk: Scientific espionage, open exchange, and American competitiveness

As the federal government warns universities and colleges about the risk of China to academia in the United States, professors, scientists, and students of Chinese ethnic origin are under heightened scrutiny. In 2015, I became a casualty of this campaign despite being innocent. This experience gave me insights into the challenges Chinese scientists face and the immediate threat to the open environment in fundamental research on university campuses. Based on my personal experience and the recent events involving Chinese scientists in the US, I urge the audience to join an increasing number of scientists, university administrators, and professional societies in speaking up to defend liberty, support reaffirmation of NSDD-189 on open fundamental research, and safeguard America's research enterprise.