Chinese Student Arrested for Alleged Visa Fraud and Military Ties in the U.S.

Buffalo, New York – Jiaxuemo Zhang, a 28-year-old Chinese national pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Buffalo, has been arrested and charged with criminal visa fraud. The arrest was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, Trini E. Ross, on August 3.

According to the complaint, Mr. Zhang was issued an F-1 nonimmigrant visa by the U.S. Department of State in 2021 for his studies in the United States. However, it has been alleged that he failed to disclose crucial information in his visa application regarding his research and educational history.

The complaint states that Mr. Zhang conducted research and studied at Beihang University in China, which is known for its involvement in research for the Chinese military, specifically the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). His visa application only listed China University of Mining and Technology Beijing, omitting any association with Beihang University.

Beihang University, designated as one of China’s “Seven Sons of National Defense,” houses nine major Chinese defense laboratories, including the National Laboratory of Computational Fluid Dynamics, co-established with a military academy, where Mr. Zhang conducted his research.

The case came to light when Mr. Zhang applied for Ph.D. programs in the United States last December, and the investigating agent discovered discrepancies between the information provided in his CV and his visa application, revealing ties to Beihang University.

Mr. Zhang pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on conditions after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer on July 28.

The case adds to concerns about Chinese students collecting technology and intellectual property for China’s military and economic advancement. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Chinese students enrolling in U.S. universities, raising concerns about potential intellectual property theft and espionage.

In response to these concerns, former President Donald Trump signed a proclamation in May 2020, suspending certain students and researchers from entering the U.S. as nonimmigrants if they have ties to China’s “military-civil fusion strategy” or its efforts to acquire foreign technologies. The proclamation aimed to protect sensitive U.S. technologies and intellectual property from being exploited by the Chinese communist regime for military and economic purposes.

The FBI has repeatedly warned about the Chinese regime’s efforts to target businesses, universities, and government research facilities to obtain advanced technologies, posing a significant national security threat. As the case of Jiaxuemo Zhang unfolds, authorities remain vigilant in addressing potential threats posed by individuals with undisclosed ties to military institutions in China.