In a further blow to the China Initiative, prosecutors move to dismiss a high-profile case

Chen was arrested on suspicion of federal grant fraud and publicly accused of disloyalty to the US, a charge typically leveled in espionage cases, not grant fraud, as Chen's defense team pointed out in its attempt to formally sanction the US Attorney's Office for the statement. Chen was charged with three counts of wire fraud, false statements, and failure to file a report on a foreign bank account.
The case centered on whether the scientist had disclosed contracts, appointments, and awards from entities in the People's Republic of China, including a Chinese talent program, and more than $19 million in funding from the Chinese government.
The Wall Street Journal first reported that the Department of Energy official confirmed that Chen's grant requirements did not require him to disclose posts in China, but that disclosure would not have affected his grants.

The money was intended for MIT to support a new collaborative research center at China's Southern University of Science and Technology, not Professor Chen.

Chen is one of the most prominent scientists charged under the initiative. MIT faculty members wrote an open letter in support of a scholar who was arrested for academic activity. The complaint against Gang Chen is an insult to any citizen who values science and the scientific enterprise, they wrote.
What are you going to do next?

There are six more research integrity cases pending with the charges against Chen almost certain to be dismissed. Four are going to trial this spring. A growing number of critics, including scientific associations, civil rights organizations, lawmakers, and even former officials involved in shaping the program, have called for an end to the program.
Wyn Hornbuckle, a spokesman for the Justice Department, told MIT Technology Review that the department is reviewing its approach to counter threats posed by the PRC government. We expect to provide additional information in the coming weeks. The US Attorney's Office in Boston has not yet responded to a request for comment.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy published updated guidance on protecting American research and development against foreign interference on January 4.

Robert Fisher, Chen's attorney, told MIT Technology Review that Chen was looking forward to resolving the criminal matter.

Additional reporting was done by Jess Aloe.