The China Initiative, launched in 2018 under the Trump administration, targeted researchers like Chen for failing to disclose Chinese affiliations in grant proposals to US funding agencies. Critics argue that these prosecutions unfairly target scientists of Chinese descent and blur the line between disclosure violations and more serious crimes like espionage, creating a climate of fear in academia. Chen was arrested in January 2021 for omitting affiliations with Chinese government institutions in grant applications to the US Department of Energy in 2017. He denied all charges against him, but officials at the Department of Energy have recently informed prosecutors that Chen was not required to disclose his seven affiliations, casting doubt on the validity of the charges. The Justice Department is considering dismissing cases and potentially retiring the China Initiative as they review the potential national security risks posed by China's global influence. Officials from multiple administrations have expressed concerns about China's attempts to steal intellectual property through unconventional means, such as using academics as sources of sensitive information. The program has led to many pleas and convictions, such as a Monsanto employee caught leaving the country with a proprietary algorithm and a Coca-Cola chemist who stole a valuable formula. Last month, a jury in Boston found Harvard chemist Charles Leiber guilty of six felonies, including false statements and failure to report income from China, after a short deliberation. However, some cases against academics have not held up. The first trial involving Anming Hu, an engineering professor at the University of Tennessee, ended in acquittal in September due to lack of evidence of intentional fraud. The Justice Department has also dropped seven cases against researchers recently. The most prominent case to be dismissed so far is against Chen, a naturalized US citizen since 2000. He is an elite scientist with strong support from his university. Chen, who has been on paid leave from MIT since his arrest, expressed gratitude to friends and colleagues for their support during a challenging year. He criticized the China Initiative and highlighted the ongoing fear it brings to the academic community. The decision to drop the case was made after prosecutors found new information showing that the Chinese affiliations in question were not crucial to the funding agency. Newly sworn-in US attorney Rachael Rollins acknowledged the impact of charging decisions on people's lives. "As the United States attorney, I will always encourage the prosecutors in our office to conduct thorough and ongoing reviews throughout legal proceedings. The decision to dismiss today's case was made after careful consideration and is in the best interest of justice." When Chen was arrested a year ago, the statements from the prosecutor's office were much harsher. The US attorney at the time, Andrew E Lelling, suggested that Chen's actions were motivated by loyalty to China, while FBI special agent Joseph R Bonavolonta accused Chen of knowingly defrauding federal grants. The charges eventually filed were narrower in scope, focusing on two counts of wire fraud related to Chen's failure to disclose certain affiliations while applying for a grant to study heat conduction in polymer structures. These affiliations included roles as a consultant for the Chinese government and various Chinese organizations. He was charged with not reporting a Chinese bank account with over $10,000 and with providing false information to government officials in his grant applications. Department of Energy officials indicated that the undisclosed affiliations would not have affected the grant approval. Chen's lawyer credited witnesses for clarifying misunderstandings and stated that Chen never lied. The lawyer expressed relief that the government recognized Chen's innocence. Our defense was that Gang did not commit any of the crimes he was accused of. The Biden administration is expected to make changes to the China Initiative soon, as the Department of Justice reviews its approach to countering threats from the Chinese government. The name China Initiative might be changed and the cases could be handled by the National Security Division instead. Officials are considering resolving the cases individually rather than offering amnesty in grant fraud cases. Lelling, one of the creators of the China Initiative, is now advocating for the Justice Department to stop prosecuting individuals based on grant disclosures. He believes the initiative was originally meant to combat espionage but has lost focus. Lelling stated that the fear created by the China Initiative has hindered collaboration among researchers, and suggested that the DOJ should reconsider its approach. Despite this, he acknowledged that prosecuting academics has led to increased transparency regarding Chinese funding in research. "What is deterrence? You avoid speeding because you fear getting a ticket. Deterrence revolves around fear." MIT President Rafael Reif expressed his eagerness for Chen to resume his responsibilities at the university and acknowledged the immense burden the case had placed on him and his family, which was unimaginable. Reif stated, "It is challenging to come to terms with the suffering and pain experienced by such admirable individuals, people we are proud and lucky to know, in the past two years. This case has also caused ongoing distress within our community, especially for Gang's friends, students, and colleagues, as well as for individuals of Chinese descent at MIT and beyond." © 2022 The New York Times Company.