New York, NY (July 23, 2024) — Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today released the following statement in support of University of Kansas Professor Feng “Franklin” Tao. Professor Tao was a victim of the failed China Initiative program.
“The China Initiative is a failed program that has fueled racial animosity, xenophobia, and suspicion towards the AAPI community and Chinese Americans in particular. Even when cases are dismissed, many Chinese and Asian Americans have their lives, careers, and health greatly affected. Our support and sympathies go to Professor Tao and his family as they work to rebuild their lives. Committee of 100 supports the protection of our national security, but not at the expense of our cherished civil liberties.”
Professor Tao was wrongly convicted in April 2022 of three counts of wire fraud and one count of making a materially false statement. A U.S. District Judge threw out the wire fraud convictions on appeal. This past week, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled that the government failed to provide sufficient evidence that Professor Tao’s failure to disclose his potential conflict of interest actually mattered, and it directed the lower court to acquit him of that sole remaining count.
With the overturned conviction, Professor Tao is a free man yet the significant financial and reputational damage to Professor Tao and his family remains.
Committee of 100 has long contended that the China Initiative, originally formed as an effort to combat economic espionage against American industry, had been distorted into a campaign to unfairly and mainly target Chinese American researchers in U.S. universities. With few convictions and multiple dismissals, the China Initiative has tragically damaged the lives and careers of too many innocent Americans and has actually hurt the nation’s ability to lead in global scientific research and innovation. Committee of 100 had urged — along with many leading AAPI community organizations, civil rights groups and others in higher education — the China Initiative was misguided and caused far too much collateral damage to individuals and institutions.
A GoFundMe account has been set up to help defray Professor Tao’s legal fees.
About Committee of 100
Committee of 100 is a non-profit U.S. leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy. For over 35 years, Committee of 100 has served as the preeminent organization committed to the dual missions of promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and constructive relations between the United States and Greater China. Visit https://www.committee100.org/ or follow Committee of 100 on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more information.
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Charles Zinkowski
Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications
czinkowski@committee100.org
Sam Jones
Manager of PR and Social Media
sjones@committee100.org
